IDEALS IN PRACTICE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 20, 24 July 1934, Page 8

IDEALS IN PRACTICE

The New Zealand Legion has' placed before the public certain ideals for organised government. Socalled practical politicians have been inclined to scoff and say: "It is not practical politics." Now the Legion has followed up ii's exposition of ideals by proposing a practical method, and'the proposal calls for an answer from ihe political parlies. It submits that the best interests of the people cannot he served by'parly government, and lhat a ' National Government representative of all interests is essential. To render this possible of attainment it is proposed lhat local issues should be dealt with by a reformed local government on the shire system, and that'first consideration of economic issues (the greatest stumbling-block lo national unity) should be undertaken by an economic council truly representative of ajl economic' interests. Parliament would retain its supreme functions, but it would be freed from cluttering detail of, local affairs, and it would have from the economic council facts and advice pormitting it to make consistent and sperdy decisions based oh principles. Politicians may retort that the method is as idealistic and far from praclical politics as the aim. But why? It can only be so if the parlies refuse to co-operate. It is necessary for each parly to speak for itself, and the Legion has asked each to do so. Labour cannot say, "It is impossible because Reform won't cooperate." Nor can. Reform say, "Labour won't play the game." Each party must define its own altitude, and the leaders have a heavy responsibility upon them if they reject the proposal on ihe plea that they can come up to the standard, but they cannot trust their present political opponents.