THE COMING ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13875, 8 October 1908, Page 8

THE COMING ELECTIONS.

Sir,— your permission I will advance a few reasons why the next Parliament should Iks elected on "Independent" lilies. Tho best men . available ' should be chosen and pledged to. measures rather than men. If the State were run on' tho lines of a limited, liability company the Ministry, or directors, would have to run. the concern in the interests of the shareholders, and could not raise their own salaries without. submitting the proposal [to the people—the shareholders. The 'State now is a " business " concern as well as a governing machine, and if "party" is continued there mu»i arise a rotten . state •of affairs' ten thousand times worse than was ever known in America, where all business" is in the hands of private enterprise. If party continues wo shall not see all the friends of tho defeated party turned out of their billets, as is the case in America when, a newparty gets hold of the State pursestriiigsr Tho State is now such a big business concorn that people engaged in private enterprise can bo outvoted by State employees and . the hangers-on and political.touts of any party. Self-preservation being the first law of nature, the whole lot will vote for the party in power for fear that a change of Government will mean losing their billets, although in their hearts they may wish for a change.- 1 do not suppose that'.the Opposition members are all saints and Government supporters all sinners, but in the natural order of things this party system must lead to a system of corruption and the most brazen-faced, unprincipled men. will come to the lop. The duty of the electors is to go boldly for the right class of honest, men, irrespective of party, - and let .the Ministry see that, the people are the masters of the situation and will demand that their representatives shall have the right to examineinto all the methods of administration and" see for themselves how public money is spent. Under this party system the most of tho people aro' , gagged, arid if it goes' on the whole of the people will be gagged and in a state of slavery. The. Civil . servants in self-protection must vote for their masters, or run the risk of the sack if other men get into,power. The ballot is no protection, and gives 110 encouragement for moil to vote according to conscience if their living is at stake. If. the Opposition'get into office they , will have to reward their friends with billets to keep in pqwer, but, I do not ink they' will ever get tho power, simply because the S\-Uo employees are now too numerous to rick losing "their billets through change of party power. Tho Opposition could not reward enough of their friends to keep them in office without sacking others, as there is some limit even to public squandering of money. The whole matter rests with the people, and if the people are corrupt the State will go on under a system of corruption; but if the people are independent and honest to themselves they will return independent, hone-it men to administer their, affairs of Stair, even if he be only a working man candidate who offers honest'services: A. 'Sasfov.ll.