Individual Responsibility in Crisis

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6864, 21 May 1932, Page 3

Individual Responsibility in Crisis

HASTY CRITICISM UNDESIRABLE. $ NEED TO GET TOGETHER FOR COMMON GOOD. In tho course of his remarks at the annual meeting of the Wellington provincial executive of the Farmers Union held at Feilding yesterday the retiring president, Mr. K. W. Dal* ryraplc, advanced the view that tho existing crisis called for a sharing of the responsibility and that there was an urgent need for all to get together for the common good. Confidence in Union. "It is gratifying to note," said Mr. Dalrymple, "that despite their serious difficulties farmers, on the whole, are maintaining their membership with the union and this, I feel, is indicative of tho primary producers’ confidence in their parent organisation. Tho union, representing as it does all shades of political thought, has studiously avoided becoming involved in political issues. It has rather concentrated upon emphasising the Tcally important part primary producers play in promoting the welfare of this Dominion. The depression is demonstrating that at the moment. There are those perhaps who consider that tho union has not been as prominent as it might have been in voicing the difficulties of the primary producer, and it is upon the question of speaking about our own and others' troubles that I suggest wo give consideration. Hasty Criticism Useless. "The depression and the efforts that have been made towards adjusting our national position to moot the serious fall in our national income have produced considerable criticism and much of this has been made without consideration of its effect. The world over has witnessed the application of seemingly drastic remedies to meet the changing conditions and the very fact of their introduction should make people think seriously beforo giving expression to their thoughts concerning our own troubles. Wo cannot deny that tho times are trying and hard but this, I suggest, only stresses the need to resognise, beforo we speak, the effect of what is said. Personal Responsibility. "There appears to be a real need for recognising personal responsibility in this universal crisis—wo cannot stand aloof and offer hasty criticisms of policy and expect any good resuits when we have, by our own personal act, given the control of our national life into the hands of those considered best fitted to manage tho country. We must therefore accept a measure of the responsibility in the task of rehabilitating tho country and, if we reflect upon world conditions and New Zealand conditions and examine our individual positions, I am confident one and all will appreciate wherein that responsibility lies. After all we, as individuals, collectively represent the nation and wo cannot evade our individual responsibility. The degree of our personal obligations in the big and vital question of setting tho national house in order is in. proportion to the importance of tho public position held by the individual or organisation. It is greater, of course, with tho politicians who are the men in charge for the time being. Next are our editors, then the leaders of the professions, followed by organisations and so on right down to tho individual. Criticism is weighed according to the eminence of the party, organisation or individual responsible and in times such as those at present existing correct vision is needed by all who venture to offer criticism, for it is necessary to weigh well the effect of that criticism. First and foremost eritics should have in mind the common good of all. The union holds a responsible position and while it may not have dono everything its members generally desire, it has certainly avoided doing those things which may have brought it into discredit.

Clear Thinking And Vision Necessary. “We havo already witnessed the effects arising from publio utterances respecting different aspects of the depression and of tho measures adopted to bring about an adjustment,” he continued. “They emphasise the need for clear thinking before speaking. While wo are at variance as to the causes which produced the crisis and differ as to the effioacy of the measures introduced by Parliament to strengthen our position, we can, I suggest, agree that a very earnest endeavour is being made to combat the extremely difficult situation which the country finds " itself in. Tho problems to toe faced will not stand hasty settlement any more than the measures introduced to meet the difficulties will stand hasty criticism. Farmers might well examine their positions to ascertain possible faults, not with the idea of apportioning blame, but with the object of paving the way for a sound recovery 'based upon experience. Cannot Disregard principles. “There will not be any easy way out of our difficulties especially if we chooso to absolutely disregard those principles which were considered sound and good in other times. Hard times and the difficulties they bring with them often suggest in the confusion of the moment what can be termed quack remedies. The tendency to-day is towards hasty judgment based upon conclusions which ignore the principles Which were upheld as being sound in the days before the world depression and from this arises a form of criticism of policy which takes no cognisance of individual responsibility. The call is for a careful consideration of our position and that of the rest of tho worid —each country is facing similar difficulties and tackling their problems in the only way offering since international affairs are so interwoven. Wo have to adjust ourselves accordingly and in doing so accept our share of the responsibility. Facing difficulties where life was at stake we backed our leaders in the Great War. We often laughed at .those difficulties, yet we knew that we carried an individual responsibility; which was as great and

perhaps greater than that of to-day. We should get behind our loaders in the government of the country to-day and give them the support they require and expect. We must share their task and strive to cultivate the view that the stops taken to strengthen the country’s position have been taken for the common good. At the same time we must examine our own positions and by doing so endeavour to co-operate in the plans for our adjustment. Times require that we get together and work for a common cause—the rehabilitation of our country. Opinions must not be too fixed and we must Toalise that the duties of those who represent tho Government are by no means easy or pleasant,” he concluded. (Applause.)