The Matamata Record PUBLISHED MONDAY AND THURSDAY MONDAY, JULY 31, 1933. THE NEW ZEALAND LEGION.

Matamata Record, Volume XVI, Issue 1446, 31 July 1933, Page 4

The Matamata Record PUBLISHED MONDAY AND THURSDAY MONDAY, JULY 31, 1933. THE NEW ZEALAND LEGION.

THE New Zealand Legion has certainly given the public a great deal to think over. If for no reason than that it is trying to focus attention on the need for reform in public life it has justified its creation and its existence. It is assumed that it will encounter the cold wind of criticism that its aims and objects are idealistic/; impossible of attainment, and impracticable in actual politics. This objection is to be expected to any proposal or movement which involves a change of conditions. There are many who hold that what has been and is must continue. But the Legion can answer if the political system is out of touch with democracy then it is time that the system is changed. It resolves itself into either the change of the system or the failure of democracy. The party system is not an absolute essential to sound or good government. For many years it served a good purpose, but the fact that in many countries dictatorship has replaced it warrants the thought of change. Too often it is overlooked that in

the time of stress National or

Coalition Governments come into I existence, when it is contended ifiat for the common welfare party differences must be sunk. Yet because i j old customs die hard those who supj port a National Government will oppose the abolition of the party system. The failure of the party system in the Dominion during the last few years is too serious a matter to permit the objection of a departure from established custom to carry any great weight, j Criticism of the waste of time in the House is not novel. The debate on the Address-in-Reply is generally condemned, and very rarely defended. It has been left to the Legion to concentrate public opinion against this abuse. The curse of the party system and its pernicious effect is never more apparent than in the use of the “ no-confidence ” method to make individual members' views subversive to party interests. It is impossible to imagine a board of directors of a big commercial institution or some important local authority conducting its business on j the lines on which Parliament is carried on. In the past what has been every man’s business is no man’s business. And matters have just drifted. The Legion may provide the rallying ground for public opinion.

Because the Legion’s plans for governmental reform are more advanced and have taken shape they will attract the greatest attention. On other subjects such as credit and land the proposals may be amended or altered. Beyond the expression of opinion that a planned economic system was necessary, the Legion appears to have arrived at no definite decision on details. It may be condemned for this, just as it was censured for not having a platform prepared when it came into existence. But important conclusions are rarely arrived at in haste. The wider the field of consideration the sounder ti:c ultimate proposals will be.