DUTY OF CITIZENSHIP

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 41, 14 November 1927, Page 10

DUTY OF CITIZENSHIP

GET GOOD GOVERNMENT

PRIME MINISTER’S HELPFUL ADVICE

"We have not come here to-night for pleasure altogether,” said the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) at the inaugural meeting of the South branch of the Junior Reform and Constitutional League on Saturday night, "but also to find out exactly what is meant by the Junior Reform and Constitutional League. The real object of our gatherings of young people is to interest them in matters winch will be of importance to them in later years

“Institutions of a political, Parliamentary, legal or social character have come down through the ages and have been brought to perfection, even more so in New Zealand than in any other part of the British Empire. But there are some parties in existence whose ideas of government are of a merely destructive nature. We have in New Zealand a small section of the community who hold those views, but fortunately they are well underneath. But there may come a time when we will be faced bv this partv as a strong party," lie said. “Probably it will be a time of economic stress, and. that which has taken centuries to build up will be in danger of being pulled down It is for us to educate ourselves and gain that knowledge which will enable us to use our power of the vote, and to cast that vote for the partv which will bind together those institutions as part and parcel of the Government "The Junior Reform League gives you the opportunitv to see whether you are in the right camp or not, when the time comes for von to use that power The Government has so far neglected to organise such a movement as this, but vou will now have an opportunity for gaining that information. King and Country First. "The Reform Party does not place itself first, but it places the King and the country first. (Applause.) It has no sectional interests, but the broad idea of legislating for all the country. We are said by some to be the direct descendants of the Tory Party at Home —the Conservative Party. The Conservative Partv has never had a chance. When it has been in power the country has been up against it and not prosperous. But the Reform Party has legislated for the whole community, and if you look back over its record you will find nothing more liberal than the Acts which this “Torv” Government lias passed. It is a party which appeals to Democracy. Democracy, in my opinion, lias made great strides, and such strides that we have been able to distribute some of the wealth from those who have it among the poorer members of the community. There have been provisions made for widows, those who have been left destitute, those who have been maimed or crippled; all these benefits brought into existence during the term of office of this “Tory” Party. (Applause.) Universal Education.

There is in New Zealand a system under which it is the right of every child in the country to have a decent education, whether it is the rich man’s' or the poor man’s child, continued Mr. Coates. “I ask all of you to consider whether the performance is one to be ashamed of.” Of all the countries in the British Empire, New Zealand’s credit stands highest, and men who are investing their- savings feel sure that New Zeai land is a sound investment, and can be relied upon for, they know that the country is being well governed. This is something that every citizen should recognise, be proud of, and endeavour to maintain. Period of Reconstruction. "Some day we will be in the throes of reconstruction, and a very difficult period it will be. Organisations will become powerful, and you will think very differently of some ®f them from what you do now. It is then for you to choose which is the best for the country. We have organised for nearly everything under the sun, but in New Zealand we have not attempted to organise our people in order to enable them to recognise what party deserves to be put in power. But now there is the Junior Reform and Constitutional League. It is nothing to be ashamed of, and there is nothing fo stop you joining up to enable you to gain that knowledge it is its object to teach. There will be nothing of more value to you, so join up!” (Prolonged applause.)