ELECTORS’ ASSOCIATION

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 32354, 3 November 1943, Page 5

ELECTORS’ ASSOCIATION

(To the; Editor.) Sir,-r-Now that the election is over, people can start to think constructively about making use of their representatives in Parliament, instead of changing them. The greatest weakness of democracy has been the idea that having elected members of Parliament the electors’ responsibility is over until the time comes to vote again. Elections would be much less frantic, and parliamentary government far more satisfactory, if the people maintained close contact with their M.P. all the time, and insisted that the needs and wishes of his own constituents take priority over all other considerations. That is vitally important during the period of great changes that lies ahead; the voice of the people must be heard above the voices of sectional interests. Every member of Parliament would be more independent if he were assured of the organised support of his constituents in taking a certain stand —or their organised opposition if he did not do so. Party labels and machines would lose their sting if M’s.P. knew that their electors were actively concerned with results, not labels. Some have representatives in Parliament for whom we voted; others were not so pleased with the results of the poll. In their case, whether we voted for him or not, the sitting member is our representative in the new, Parliament, and it is our responsibility to see that he has something to represent—and if necessary, is forced to represent it. Every electorate should have its properly constituted electors’ association, repiesenting all sections of the community, in which all responsible and politically conscious citizens take an active par , and to whica every

elector with views to be represented should belong. Each electors’ association should be independent of any outside interests and free from control by sectional pressure groups. It should be recognised hs speaking for the whole community, as other organisations speak for one section—ers, farmers, business, returned diers, etc. A drive is being made establish such associations in part of the Dominion, and if the ors are ready to take this ity then the present Parliament caaM be made the most successful, satisf £-■ tory and truly democratic in NewH Zealand history. Not merely at e’eC-B tion time, but all the time, we mu&tfl protect the democracy for which fight.—l am, etc., JOHN KOGAN.