NEW ZEALAND POLITICS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21715, 24 February 1936, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND POLITICS

T<? THE EDITOR OP THE PRESS. {Sir,-rln a recent series of articles oi* New Zealand politics, the contributors devoted considerable research to the question of the .educational attainments of members of Parliament. As a result it would appear that over* a period cf years the average standard of education among representatives has shown a considerable decline. This your contributors contend, although they advance no evidence in support, must adversely affect the quality of government. It cannot be denied, that, all else being equal, an individual with a secondary or with a university education should prove a more capable and efficient member than the individual who i possesses neither; it is equally certain,] however, that as so many have attained a deserved political eminence without the assistance of these advantages, attributes other than scholarship are essential to political success. An analysis of the function of parliament will prove this to be the case as it emerges that parliament is a legislative body, the duty of which is to ascertain and define the broad principles most beneficial to national policy, to translate principles into terms of law, and by the exercise of its power of criticism and other means, to see that the country is administrated in accordance with its decisions. It therefore further emerges that it is not so much his learning, as his perception of right and wrong, his sense of justice and charity, and his courage in his convictions, which determines the quality of a legislator. In fine, it is the possession and expression of those moral attributes whose sum total is denoted by the word character, which is the basis of political greatness. While education should enhance and strengthen character, there is no guarantee that it will do so in every case. History records a period when parliamentary government was in the hands of an oligarchy comprising an educated minority. As a consequence, parliament resounded with a high-flown oratory which, however, did not lift it above the mediocrity and ineptitude of a modern legislature. On the other hand, it degenerated to a level of despicable corruption which has yet to be paralleled in the era of the adult franchise. As your contributors suggest, it may be the discrimination of an "inverted snobbery" which has led to the decline in educational standards. More likely it is because of tho operation of the party system, which, in destroying the initiative of the elector, has likewise exalted party affiliations at the expense of all other considerations. The mitigation or abolition of the party system therefore suggests itself as the obvious remedy. It should not be overlooked, however, that as a representative parliament should represent a cross-section cf the community, the existing position is not altogether remarkable. It is a aeplorable fact that in spite.of an exclient education system, the majority aie unable, owing to economic pressure, to avail themselves of its splendid opportunities. Poverty in the home and the consequent necessity to Earn a wage at the earliest possible age drive far too many into the industrial -?rena at the completion of their primary schooling. It would appear then that economic reform would assist towards a solution. The articles in question have the familiar ring of the propaganda circulated by a movement having as its objective the restriction of the franchise to persons of a certain eduea'Sonal standing. In short, they aim at the establishment of an intellectual oligarchy. It is strange indeed that such a movement should be so unintellectual as to ignore the facts- of history and to remain oblivious to the Pitiful and futile record of oligarchical government in tho past.—Yours, etc., H.J.E. February 21, 1936.