The Way Out

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 147, 19 March 1934, Page 11

The Way Out

Sir —Surveying the progressively protective and socialistic tr?nd of legislation in this Dominion, how true, prophetic and applicable to thio Dominion are the words of Aristotle, "Democracy finally reaches that stage where no qualification is required either in the elector or the elected." When we cease to emulate the ostrich and bury our heads in the sand, the following facts must strike the thinking inhabitants of this country : 1. I’arly politics have failed woefully and ignominiously. 2. Owing to tlie lack of qualification in <>ur elected representatives, the conduct o, [he country is being rapidly delegated to a bureaucracy, who govern the people by Orders-in-Gouncil. 3. State Socialism has been permitted to become rampant and is proving an expensive experiment to the taxpayer. 4 The State is continually dcmandiiig more and more from the taxpayer, and at the same time by active competition wit li him is gradually depriving him of his ability to pay taxes. . . 5. By protective and sectional legislation the moral fibre and individuality is being destroyed. 6. The basic principle of a British.comiminitv “the sanctity of contracts,” is being whittled away by short-sighted panic legislation. . „ AVhat or where is the remedy. Ihe answer is England, whose people have fed the gaping mouth of its offspring with loan upon loan. England, whose might protects our infantile weakness from foreign invasion; who conferred upon us the status of a self-governing Dominion in tlie full trust and hope that we would acquit ourselves efficiently in that capacity; who absorbs our product'. Let us go humbly unto England and say unto her: “O, Mother of Parliaments, we have erred and strayed from thv ways and precepts like lost sheep. AVe have embarked upon legislation, which thou in thy wisdom have never seen lit to experiment with. AA’e have erected the false gods of party politics and socialism, and have bowed down and worshipped these false images. Wo have failed to appreciate the dangers of creating a false and transitory prosperity on other people’s moneys, and we now suffer pain and sorrow by reason thereof. AVe find State socialism has a habit ot developing into State capitalism, but had not the foresight to realise the eventual result of. our well-meant legislative efforts. When our electors have demanded that uneconomic enterprises should be commenced by the State, we have bowed down and yielded, provided they cried out loudly enough for them, and we have delegated to the State untold uneconomic enterprises which arc now causing us great travail. “AA T e have proved unfitted for the taskallotted to us. Therefore, take back thine erring child to thy bosom Relieve us for one decade of the responsibility of self-government, and send unto us men competent to put our house In order." Thus and thus only can we be saved.-I am, etc.. Gisborne, March 15.