ETHICS OF POLITICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19720, 20 August 1927, Page 16

ETHICS OF POLITICS.

PLEA FOR LESS RANCOUR. SPEECH BY GENERAL SMUTS. [from our own correspondent.] DURBAN. July 12. A plea for less bitterness in public life was made by General Smuts, ex-Prime Minister, in a message to the National Union of South African Students, which is holding its first congress at Durban. At that congress, said General Smuts, there would be a deep sense of belonging together, of a common nationhhood, of a comradeship which was not confined to particular universities or parts, or even provinces, but which was nation-wide; a new and deeper sense of values would result in a higher appreciation of the things that affect the life and the destiny of a people. "I foresee a nobler national consciousness growing out of such meetings as these," General Smuts continued; " a surer appreciation of others' point of view ; an instinctive tolerance and social magnanimity which will become one of the greatest assets of our many-stocked young nation. "I am glad to know that common debates will be part of the proceedings. These debates will also afford valuable opportunities for training in the qualities that build up a nation. We love sport and delight m our games; through our games we learn to play the game, which is one of the finest things in the life of the citizen and the nation. There is a fine spirit of sportsmanship in our life no less than in our games. " Only in one respect do we fail—we do not show the same sense of high sportsmamliip in our public life. There is a bitterness, a violence of language, an indulgence of personal invective in our politics such as is pn ljably not exceeded in any other country." The ex-Prime Minister continued: "In our public life we feel justified in using language toward our opponents of which we would be thoroughly ashamed in private life. I have heard language used in Parliament and on the platform which has appalled me; language which is the negation of all true sportsmanship or gentlemanliness. I am speaking of the older generation, and I know with what pity, almost amounting to contempt, the younger generation look upon us. Here is a habit of ours which is deservedly contemptible, and which the rising generation should not copy from us. " In your discussions, in your debates learn tliose habits of high courtesy and chivalrous fairness which will stand you in good stead in after life, and which will raise the tone of our public life to a higher level. Make public life sweet and fair and attractive; do not let us sink in our politics to a level which makes public lifo a pain and a deterrent to those who truly wish to serve their country."