Democracy Is Worth Paying For

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31289, 8 February 1967, Page 12

Democracy Is Worth Paying For

The by-election required by the death of Sir Eruera Tirikatene will cost at least £2500, according to the Registrar-General (Mr J. G. A’Court). The Southern Maori electorate covers the whole of the South Island and the lower part of the North Island. In a General Election Maori voters may use any non-Maori voting booth, but for a by-election booths will need to be set up specially throughout the electorate. The £2500 provided by the Electoral Department will be only part of the cost, for the political parties and the candidates themselves will be put to the expense of another campaign. The suggestion of the Deputy Leader of the Social Credit Political League (Mr J. O’Brien) therefore has a certain attractiveness. As the result was a “ foregone conclusion ”, Mr O’Brien said last week, “ let the elders appoint a man best “ suited to carry on the work as Sir Eruera Tirikatene “would have done”.

The result may be “ a foregone conclusion ”. The Labour Party’s nominee, in whose selection the elders will certainly have a say, is expected to retain the seat But this is no good reason for neglecting the machinery of democracy. It may sometimes seem an expensive machine to keep working and in good repair; but it is not too expensive in relation to the benefits it brings.