Reform of Government

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 189, 9 May 1934, Page 11

Reform of Government

Sir, —1 should like lo support the suggestion you made in last Friday's issue Inal members ot the House of Representatives, during the next few weeks before the iJuuse meets, should call their constituents together in the chief centres of their electorates to place before them the results to date of the various steps taken by the Government to meet the economic crisis with which the Dominion has beeu faced during the past two or three years and the progress that has been made toward recovery. During tile period mentioned the Government has been called upon to take steps and pass measures which have made it very unpopular with a large section of the electors, but while one expects and does not take so much notice of the noisy protests of the unthinking portion of the people, the Government certainly has cause to complain of the lack of active support from the more responsible section, particularly the business and professional people. Instead of receiving that help and backing which it bad the right to expect in carrying out its thankless task it has been harassed and hindered in many ways, which after all only delays the advent of the better times for which everybody waits. The Labour Party has shown by its unfair criticism of the Government’s actions that it will stop at nothing in its efforts to gain control of the Treasury benches. Unfortunately many people who should have more sense are inclined to think at the present time that possibly the Labour Party may be able to make a better show in managing the country’s affairs than the Government has done. Electors of New Zealand have no excuse for being led away by the glittering promises of the Labour Party, for although it has no record here to judge it by. yet in Australia there is to be found all the evidence that is needed to show the utter foolishness of looking to the Labour Party for a way out of our troubles. The leaders of the Labour movement everywhere have the same ideals and the same methods of striving to reach their goal, and there is no reason to expect that the party would make a better showing here than it has done in Australia.

After a period of misrule by the Federal Labour Party the Commonwealth had drifted into a position worse by far than New Zealand reached at its lowest, and jt was only'by the formation of a strong Government and a recognition by the people that drastic measures were necessary, that Australia was able to lift itself out of the depths. Another point which .requires to be made very plain to the electors to-day is that while most people deplore the waste of time, money and energy that takes place at times with our present system of government, yet any movement for reform of government must work by the slow process of educating the voter to see the advantage of other methods, and that any attempt to force the issue prematurely by putting up candidates for Parliament before the country is ready for these reforms is merely going to split the moderate vote nt the next general election. and thereby ensure the return of a party totally opposed to the reforms aimed at. This wants emphasising at every opportunity.—l am, etc.. , A. H. BURGESS. Waikanae.. May 7.