THE “NEW” POLITICS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 19 September 1936, Page 2

THE “NEW” POLITICS

(Contributed by New Zealand Welfare League.)

We have heard much of the “new” economics and are now seeing a new conception of a politician’s duty busily circulated throughout New Zealand. It is no less than an assertion that voters have only got to demand that our members give them what they want, and it is their duty to do so. The advocates of the “new” politics ignore the fact that the things demanded may be impossible* of realisation, for no ideal can be realised on method by which they can be reached —yet when any one raises this objection the reply is that the voters are. not concerned with practical methods.

This assertion will not bear examinationfi for no ideal can be realised on demand, or by legislation, unless a practical method can be found to produce the desired results. Nevertheless we are assured that the method doesn’t matter!

A well known rule of propaganda is to repeat a thing often enough and people may at last be induced tc accept it. This rule is apparently at work now, for this new conception has suddenly been advocated, and pressed on the readers of our papers, all over New Zealand, and relates especially to monetary reform, Any mistaken action with regard to our monetary system would spell ruin to the whole community therefore every elector should ask for the proposed method and see that it is properly investigated, before asking our politicians to put it into action. To do otherwise is akin to buying a “gold brick” without first assaying it.