THE PARTY SYSTEM

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 13430, 18 April 1944, Page 4

THE PARTY SYSTEM

Sir. —On the occasion of a general election the great majority of electors vote for the candidates of various political parties. These parties are somewhat similar in substance so they are distinguished by widely differing labels. During the election campaign great attention is given to the labels and correspondingly little to the substance. Quite a number of electors agree with the arguments against party politics, and speak in favour of independent representation, but by some process of reasoning best understood by themselves, still vole for party candidates on polling day. A few, honest and confirmed in their belief that any party government, whatever its ideals, is bound to degenerate into at best a veiled dictatorship, vote for an independent candidate if one is offering. It is maintained by these that the pledge to vote for a party leader on a. motion of no-confidence (any measure can be made a motion of noconfidence) makes an utter farce of such terms as reprseentative and democratic government. The pretence of granting; liberty to party members to vote as they please has been aptly described as an independence amounting to “go where you like but come when you are called.” During an election campaign immeasurable quantities of speeches are produced dealing mainly with the virtues of one party and the vices of others. It is truly said that actions speak louder than words. Recent actions in the British Parliament, on which, we are assured, the eyes of the world are fixed, speak more eloquently than all the electioneeringrhetoric ever produced. The facts are so simple as to be beyond dispute. Contrary to the wishes of certain party leaders an amendment providing for equal pay for men and women school teachers was passed. This amendment, surely a worthy one, was no doubt debated and voted on according to the honest convictions of members. What is wrong with that procedure? The sequel makes shameful reading. The Party whip cracked. The following day all but a few members voted the opposite way to their previous vote. A dishonest and untruthful vote in the Parliament of the greatest “democracy” of the world; in full view of a number of other states which are being called on to choose between supporting “democratic government” (whatever that may mean) and the other thing (whatever that may be). Emerging from this mess one fact stands clear. That is that when the war for the rights of nations against aggression has been won, the war to save democracy will still have to be fought. Who is to fight it? Shall we leave it to the returned soldiers, worn and weary from years of war service? What does the R.S.A. think? Personally I think that we who have been privileged to live at home in peace and comfort should fight it. —I am, etc., J. N. BLAYMIRES.