THE GENERAL ELECTION.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20334, 5 September 1931, Page 11

THE GENERAL ELECTION.

TO THE EDlTOfi OF TKB PRESS. Sir,—Your lender in last Monday's issue, August 31st, under the above heading, makes reference to the probable attitude of all three of the Parties to a General Election. You say: "But it is a fact also that the United Party is afraid of the electors. Labour way as sincerely think that the national interest makes an election imperative; but it hopes, also, to take political advantage of the present discontent. The Reform Party has nothing to feftr from the electors." That may Be a fairly accurate summary; but events will prove its wisdom or otherwise. You further state: "The Labour Party, if it is robbed of an election by the joint action of the two Parties opposed to it, will have (and know what Jut do with) a flrßt-class political grievance.'* The question arises: Are political grievances of greater importance than the general well-being of the whole community 1 No doubt the Labour Party believes that a General Election this year will be their golden opportunity tty strengthen their position in Parliament, and probably secure control of Ministerial office.

The most 'disturbing sentence iiv your article reads: "But it is doubtful if anything that the Economy Committee is likely to recommend can have as much weight as the attitude of the Labour Party." The inference is, the demand of the Labour Party for ft General Election must be conceded, regardless of all other considerations. If we have arrived to that state of affairs; it is like burning the house to get a fire. In your issue of Wednesday, September 2nd, your correspondent "J.E.T." puts up a good case when he states' "that Parliament has developed int6 a Board of Directors, elected by popular vote, in which the employees take part (Government servants and others), and the . elections are ofton influenced by promises of advances in salaries of the employees, who themselves vote equally with the biggest guarantor." Therein lies the political strength of the Labour Party; and conversely, th.s weakness of the other Parties; and if this present Parliament chooses to face the country without some alteration iri our representative methods of election, then, it will be confirmation of a phrase used by Mr Langstone, M.P.: "A case of stupidity in high places." In most business concerns votes are distributed according to the value of the shares of its holders; and not the numbor of the employees who happen to be employed. As Parliamentary elections are SO different, is not that a contributory cause to 0«i past extravagances, and the, disturbing factors of our economic situation at the present time? —Yours, etc., [ . • A.B. September 3rd, 1931.