ETHICS IN POLITICS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 257, 29 September 1932, Page 12

ETHICS IN POLITICS.

PARTIES’ FIGHTING FUNDS. CONTRIBUTIONS AND FAVOURS. During the Royal Commission on the granting of licenses for mechanical haro racing in New South Wales there have been several references to contributions to the funds of the Labour Party, emphasis being laid on the fact that one man prominently associated with the sport had guaranteed the advertising of the Lang Labour Party during the last Federal election campaign (writes a Sydney correspondent). The propriety or otherwise of so contributing to a political party has formed the subject of many an interesting discussion between counsel and the Royal Commissioner, Mi- Justice Halse Rogers. Mr W. A. Holman, K.C., a former Premier of New South Wales and now a member of the Federal House of Representatives, said that party funds were one of the inevitable by-products of the party system, especially with elections becoming more and more intensive and more expensive. Parties invited subscriptions to their funds and these were frequently given in anticipation, no doubt, of favours to come.

COMMISSIONER’S REMARKS. The Judge asked, amid laughter, whether funds were not almost universally givon for that reason, and not merely frequently, and Mr Holman replied that he was trying to be moderate. He said that the Judge might think that his client had an idea of currying favour by making gifts to party funds, but a great gulf was drawn between a man who made subscriptions to party funds —a practice that was encouraged by the circumstances of public life to-day and. the man who was guilty of corruption. The Commissioner: So far as contributions to party funds are concerned whether here or in England, depending on the lively anticipation of benefits to come, and as regards a person making contributions for that purpose, he is no less guilty morally than a man who makes a contribution to an individual. I do not see any difference so far as the person who makes the contribution is concerned. MR HOLMAN’S CONFESSION.

Mr Holman said that he himself, during his political career, had solicited peoplo to send money to party funds, but lie did not think that anyone who had participated in that act could reasonably say that he was to be condemned. The Judge replied that from a point of view of public morality one thing appeared to be obvious. Jf a party received large contributions from any individual, then there ought to be the most scrupulous care with regard to the dealings with that individual in the future in relation to any matters with which ho had association with Government departments. That might be a counsel of perfection, but it was a point of view that could scarcely be challenged on the ground of public morality. Mr Holman said that that standard had not been achieved even by the most honourable Governments.