Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1935. DEMOCRAT DISSENSIONS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 August 1935, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 1935. DEMOCRAT DISSENSIONS.

Democrats fall out, the older established political Parties may come into their own, that is, if the inner secrets of the new organisation are revealed by its malcontents. The developments in connection with the Rotorua seat suggest that the Democrat Party is not quite so well organised as claimed. Mr. F. AV. Doidge was believed to be one of its captures, and his own speeches suggested he would be one of its leaders. lie followed the methods of the Democrats by wrapping in mystery, his policy and intentions. Although he was indefinite on such matters, it was understood that he would join the Democrats, and oppose Air, Coates for the Kaipara seat at the general election. Later, an Auckland suburb was said to be his choice. Yesterday he announced his candidature for Rotorua, intimating that he was prepared to work with the Democrats. Last evening, however, that Party announced the selection of another as its candidate for Rotorua. Thereby,/ must hang a tale, adding to the many associated with the district.

Air. Doidge has undoubted qualifications to be a Parliamentarian, but he would be wise to avoid the superiority complex. True, hi* has been -in London and knows Lord Beaverbrook—-but there are others. He claims that New Zealand is too pre-occupied with her own domestic all'airs, and that one of the greatest needs of this country is

“a wider understanding of 1 he Empire and world polities.” Only the other day. Lord Bledisloe fold the Loyal Empire Society, that every class in New Zealand studied foreign affairs. Perhaps. both wore

exaifL r <-rat : .i)L, r . Interest, like charity, begins at home. ami it is possible that even Mr. Poidge reserves his main attention for his private concerns. There is no country in the world but is pre-occupied with its own domestic affairs; if it were not. any opinion it had of happenings

elsewhere would have little value. Mr. Doidge is an advocate of Empire trade reciprocity. So are we all. but New Zealand realises it would be premature at this juncture. to support the Beaverbrook policy of Free Trade within the Empire. New Zealand can certainly claim to be doing her share to encourage inter-Empirc trade, and, perhaps, knew before Mr. Doidge’s yesterday’s disclosure, that a sheltered market for its products in Britain would ensure the Dominion’s prosperity. Mr. Doidge will have to do bettor than this, if he is to avoid later cause for sitting down by the waters of Rotorua and weeping.

Ministerialists have apparently decided to accept, with both gloves off, the challenge of the Democrat Party, whose main contention, so far, has been that the present Government is one of the worst in the country’s history. That assertion is nonsense, and could be readily answered without descending to' personalities, as to the extent of Sir A. L. Herdman’s sacrifices. That sort of reply would come better from lesser men than Ministers. The country’s welfare will not be advanced by Party leaders encouraging personal exchanges during the election campaign. Ne.w Zealand is accustomed, nowadays, to take her polities sanely, ,and not to act on the principle that all the good is with one Party, and all the evil with its opponents. The worst of the economic depression is over, but normal prosperity has not yet been restpred. 'Whichever Party is successful at the forthcoming polls, will face, a difficult task. The co-operation of the Opposition would make the job easier of developing national progress. Such co-operation is unlikely, if the election campaign has left a memory of unnecessarily bitter exchanges.