POLITICAL LIFE AND THOUGHT

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24653, 24 August 1945, Page 4

POLITICAL LIFE AND THOUGHT

Democracy’s Future Discussed

VIEWS OF NATIONAL PARTY “ The Press ” Special Service WELLINGTON, August 23,

Vital changes, radically altering the of life of the community, amounting almost to revolution in a past way of thought and life, should take place only after the change in question had been explicitly placed before the people in a form which showed that the will of the majority, addressed to that particular change, was clear and unequivocal, said Mr W. J. Sim, K.C., president of the National Party, in his address at the annual conference of the party. Democracy, if it was to survive, could not ir. an that the lives of its constituents, and their way of life, were to be the plaything of any group that for the moment had managed to capture control of the legislative machine, said Mr Sim. The object of the National Parly’s endeavours would be to respect this principle. It would further seek to curtail the interference by the legislature with the ordinary affairs of New Zealand men and women—in other words, to call a halt to the present tormenting of Netv Zealanders by legisi-Uon and regulation, with consequential inspectors and their inquisitions.

Akin to the responsibility of the legislature not to interfere drastically with the self-chosen ways of New Zealanders and their property without clear authority, fairly obtained from the whole country, there was also the principle that legislators at all times carried the responsibility of being representatives of all the people and not merely of a section of them. The conception of a Left (or any other) wing of a caucus outside Parliament dictating to responsible Ministers and the representatives of the people .was w.holly at varian-? with British ideas of representative government. If ! t continued it was the death blow to democracy. Mr Sim said New Zealand in its post-war years would be given a new opportunity to build a party through which all shades of progressive political and social thought might find expression, and in which it was hoped the sectionalism which had disfigured and divided New Zealand in recent years might tend to disappear. “As the sheet anchor to Democracy,” he said, “we place absolute emphasis upon obedience by the subject to the rule of law, and its enforcement by the executive. The law of the land is there to be enforced without fear or favour, regardless of the wrongdoer. The decision to put the machinery of enforcement into operation should be as automatic ‘as the decision of the courts themselves in enforcing the law. This can be the only sure guide through times of stress and crisis. When the law and its enforcement have been vindicated, there is provision for clemency in the remission of penalties, but that is a different matter.” No Blueprints In a rapidly-changing world, and one in which the domestic economy of nations became increasingly interlocked in a co-operative whole, it was inadvisable to affirm too rigidly to-day what course was to be followed in, say, 12 months’ time. He affirmed, however, that the emphatic policy of the party was, and always would be. progressive and forward-looking, and one not wedded to any particular theory or political obsession. The party offered no fixed blueprint of the future. Discussing taxation, Mr Sim said the party considered it was now as imperative to reduce taxation in the interests of the whole community, and to further without delay the prosperity of peace, as it was imperative to impose it in time of war. That could be done, it considered, in a reasonable measure without delay. Another practical step which he felt-confident the conference would endorse was that housewives should forgo the joys of the Internal Marketing Department operations, and in their place receive delivered at their doors abundant supplies of New Zealand’s products, and at prices which would fit the family purse. The housing question should be attacked with all the energy, and means of private enterprise and facilitated in every way by the State. The commercial world was entitled to have a comprehensive review of the operations of the Industrial Efficiency Act and in so far as it promotes inefficiency or retards expansion its powers were due to be curtailed. The object must be prompt decontrol consistent with State co-operation when private enterprise required and asked for such co-opera-tion to render its necessary service to the community. "In international matters,” he concluded, “we should endeavour to lead New Zealand in playing a worthy part in the maintenance of peace, but remembering always that we are a member of the British Empire or Commonwealth of Nations, the unity of which is still a paramount necessity in world affairs. In trade matters with England we give first place to the consideration that she is still our best customer.” TENNIS RACKETS. New Season’s supplies have arrived. Prices: 15/6. 21/9, 37/6, 45/-, 55/-, 75/-, 85/-, 105/-. Restrictions have been removed on Tennis Balls, and we will accept orders for one dozen Jots, price, 41/6 dozen. Supplies are limited. Make sure of your Racket and Balls now. MASON, STBUTHERS and CO., LTD.