The “New” Politics

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 301, 16 September 1936, Page 11

The “New” Politics

Sir, —We have heard much of. the “new” economics and are now seeing a new conception of g pbDtician’s duty busily circulated throughout New Zealand. It is no less than, an assertion that voters, have only got to demand that the Government give them what they want, and it is the Government’s duty to do so. The advocates of the “new” politics ignore the fact that the things demanded may be impossible of realisation. There may be no practical method by which .they can be reached, yet when anyone raises this objection the reply is that the voters are not concerned with practical methods. This assertion will not bear examination, for no ideal can be realised on demand, or by legislation, unless a practical method can be found to produce the desired results. Nevertheless, "w<e are assured that the method doesn’t matter. A well-known rule of propaganda is to repeat a thing often enough and people may at last be induced to accept it This rule is apparently at work now, for this new conception has suddenly been advocated, and pressed on the readers of our newspapers, all over New Zealand, and relates especially to monetary reform. Any mistaken action with regard to our monetary system would spell ruin to the whole community, therefore, every elector should ask for the proposed methou and see that it is properly investigated before asking our politicians to put it into action. To do otherwise is akin to buying a “gold brick” without first assaying it.—We are, etc., * N.Z. WELFARE LEAGUE. Wellington, September 15.