The Northern Advocate "NORTHLAND FIRST." Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1943. THE ELECTION ISSUE.

Northern Advocate, 24 September 1943, Page 4

The Northern Advocate "NORTHLAND FIRST." Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 1943. THE ELECTION ISSUE.

THE general election to be held tomorrow is beyond question one of the most important elections in the history of New Zealand. There are several reasons for this statement. New Zealand has reached a stage when the course she has been pursuing for the past eight years must be closely scrutinised to ascertain whether it may be safely continued or whether, in view of the proximity of rocks and shoals, it is desirable to prepare a new chart and shape a course calculated to provide safer navigation. These are matters about which there will assuredly be differences of opinion. A considerable section of the people contend that even if the course set by the Labour Government eight years ago may not have resulted in shipwreck, undue risks have been taken, endangering the stability of the Dominion and threatening disaster unless the ship is swung radically from the course it has been following.

This contention, of course, is vigorously challenged by the present navigators, who hold that they have steered the ship safely so far, and that they have every reason to believe they can continue to do so. Why worry about “breakers ahead,” when none are to be detected? they ask. That is all very well. But it should be remembered that when there is even suspicion of danger a cautious navigator heeds warnings and plays for safety. So far as New Zealand is concerned, the navigators have not given the slightest indication of their willingness to accept advice or warning. They have expressed the utmost confidence in their own judgment and capacity, and have refused to deviate from a course which others as deeply concerned as they in the safety of the Dominion are certain will to the detriment of the people as a whole.

The danger against which a warning note has been sounded is not so much material as spiritual, though in its ultimate effect the material consequences, if they should mature, would be disastrous. The electors must say tomorrw whether they wish the Dominion to continue upon a course pointing to State regimentation of their lives and actions to an extent British people have never tolerated in the course of their history. They must declare whether they desire such a state of things, which is the foundation of Socialism espoused by the Labour Government, or whether they wish to have restored the individual liberty of which the National Party is the advocate. _ . It is a question of choice between two ideologies separated widely as the Poles. Which will the people choose? They may agree upon many political principles common to Labour and Nationalists, but there is a fundamental difference in the outlook of the two parties that is of importance transcending all other questions. That is why the election to be held tomorrow js an event which may make the difference between freedom and regimentation in the years to come.

The choice to be made by the electors is one which must be based on a long view, not on immediate expediency. Considerable regulation, restriction and control may be unavoidable in war time—and it should never be forgotten that the greatest war in history has been raging for four years, throwing out of joint practices and customs universally approved in days of peace—but many people fear that the Labour Party has taken advantage of the war to introduce a socialistic regime which it will make permanent if it retains power. It is for the electors to say tomorrow whether they subscribe to this fear. They have two choices. They may support the Government party, which admittedly believes State control is beneficial to the individual, or they may support the National Party, which is a supporter of private enterprise free from undue State interference.