Party Government

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 52, 25 November 1930, Page 11

Party Government

■■ ( Sir, —Your correspondent, Mr. G. F. Moore, not only deserves the thanks of every voter in New Zealand for his timely contribution in to-day's ‘■Dominion" on the question of party government, but also their whole-hearted support in his determination to do all in his power to abolish this iniquitous system. I have had nearly forty years’ close and intimate association with the political, Parliamentary "and administrative affairs of New Zealand and all my experiences convince me that party government as we know it to-day is the real cancerous growth on our body politic, and that unless it is utterly destroyed and removed it will surely wreck this fair Dominion of ours. The citizens of New Zealand are rightly concerned at the growing menace of cancer in the physical body and are organising their forces to combat it, but it seems to me that the need to remove this poison focus of party government from our national life is of even greater importance. It is not possible in my view for any honest, intelligent, enfranchised citizen •—whether he or she be a Minister of the Crown, a party politicians or just a voter —to deny that party ■ government, as we see it working to-day in our Parliamentary and administrative machines, is an imbecility and indeed a crime. ft would be comical were it not altogether too close to tragedy in its results. No doubt every Minister of the Crown and party leader and party politician will indignantly reject the charge that they put personal and party interests before the public weal, but the test I would put to them all is: “Would you for one moment consent to your own private affairs or to any financial, commercial or industrial concern in which your own money is invested being administered and go verned on the party government system?" Ido not say that the gentlemen of the several parties who represent the electorates and the people who elected them are knowingly and deliberately perpetuating this crime of party government in their own interests, but I do suggest that "they deceive themselves and the truth is not In them. ’ More than ever to-day New Zealand needs a Parliament composed of the best and most experienced brains from among her citizens and an executive chosen from among that Parliament; not because they belong, to the United. Reform. Labour or any other party, but because of their wisdom, their experience and their success in the management and of their own affairs. Above all, New Zealand needs in her Parliament and in her executive mon with ability to see and take the right course and with strength and courage to maintain it against all Individual and sectional influences and opposition. There appears to be no other alternatve but national bankfiiptcy.—l am. etc.. D ’ Wellington. .November 20.