BUSINESS MEN IN POLITICS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20028, 9 September 1930, Page 11

BUSINESS MEN IN POLITICS.

MINISTER'S SUGGESTION. ; .. ] r./ i APPROVAL BY CHAMBER OP COMMERCE. ' - ' K : A suggestion that business men should be better represented in Parliament was made at the annual dinner of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce last night by tho Minister for Industries and Commerce (Hon. J. B. Donald) in a letter to the president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand (Mr C. P* Agar), who read the communication to the gathering, when it was received •with applause. "You will remember," ran the letter, "that when you were in Wellington at the conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, you, along with others, waited upon me with reference to the repeal of the War Regulations, etc., and at that gathering I commented upon the need for the business community being more interested and better represented in Parliamentary life. I may say that my experiences of the past few months have not weakened my ideas on this subject; in fact, I am more strongly than ever of the opinion that a solid body of business men are needed in the House if the business community are to get that consideration in Parliament that is essential if the affairs of the country are to be administered in a business-like, commonsense way. It is unfortunately a fact that for many years the busi? ness community has been content simply either to plead or protest. The days in which we are living demand action of a very much more definite kind than; this,, and - ; I . cannot,, too strongly emphasise the necessity of those ' in business coming right into the forefront of politics, and arranging among themselves to secure men of standing and of proved ability to offer their services to the electors of New Zealand. Confidence of Public. "I am quite satisfied that the people to-day, in looking for such men to come forward, and that if they will, the public will show their confidence in them at < ( the ballot-box. I know it has been suggested by certain Parliamentarians that business men are not usually a success in politics. I can quite understand the reason for this suggestion. To begin with, we have so few business menin Parliament that it is hard for them to make their weight properly felt, and, furthermore, a business man s method* are not the methods of some Parliamentarians—ths business man believes in deeds and not words. "The Dominion is facing a very serious position at the moment, and . there , does not seem much prospect of an improvement for some tune. I am satis* fied that only business xitetlibds can save the Dominion from a situation .very much more serious than we are experiencing at present, and if tho business community are properly represented they, can make themselves heard to the advantage of all. . . "I know it is a common phrase that 'the business main can take care of "himselfalso, that 'he is fair game for everybody/ . ' , "However, these sayings can De pushed too far in practice, and it is to stop the latter that I do so strongly suggest that you and your Chamber, and the 'business men' of Chriatchurch, <n9 iot that matter; of the'-wholflf *Donfim<Jn, should realise the seriousnOTS of* Ito situation, and eombine, so that before, the inert* eled&lon r ' < bo represented in the Parliament of . New Zealand, not simply-for their own. benefit, bgt foE/the besfgt 2>ominion as a whole. - * 7 7 i" ' "It is an undeniable fact that mercial enterprises of all kindsare the ' . mainspring of prosperity, and taat snc'cessful- industry alone gives opportom-. ties for the profitable employmrot of labour and the circulation of wealta among all classes. Unfortunately, however, this elementary truth is. far from be «^ay r FagSnsay Ircgret VeryimjcK ; indeed that I cannot be present at yonr dinner and say personally_ what I nav* tried to communicate by letter. Mr Agar said that while member! would appreciate the necessity of Wrebusiness men getting-into the House at was impossible to do so for the reason . that there was too much Party feermg -> in the Dominion. •