DEMOCRACY'S WEAKNESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22427, 25 May 1936, Page 10

DEMOCRACY'S WEAKNESS

There is food for thought in the reason given by Mr. A. E. Moore for resigning, the leadership of the Opposition in the Queensland Parliament. He is not stepping down because he has no longer a desire to serve his county or because he feels unequal to the task—of his ability there is no question. His reason is that his name, associated with necessary but unpopular tasks when he was Premier, may lessen his party's chances of 'success. New Zealand be proud of a son who thus effaces himself for the cause he has at heart and at the same time should reflect on an incident that searches deeply into the great weakness of democracy. In the depth of the depression between 1929 and 1932 — it hit Australia earlier than New Zealand—Mr. Moore was called on as Premier to clean up the financial and administrative conditions left by a succession .of Labour Governments. His success was striking. He enforced economy, actually reduced indebtedness, rid the State of many costly Government enterprises and left it prosperous by comparison with other States. It was not an easy or pleasant task, but Mr. Moore did his duty and served Queensland well. Instead of earning gratitude and honour, his wages were unpopularity and odium. So a good man has resigned. His case is not singular. There is no need to go to Queensland to see the like. Virtue may be its own reward, but politicians are no more than human. If a responsible spirit does not live among the people, it will barely survive among their leaders. Mr. Stanley Baldwin has truly said that " freedom and discipline alone can make a living and vivifying democracy. Freedom without discipline soon degenerates into licence 1 , by which many a State has perished. Discipline without freedom will make in time a nation of slaves. Freedom will give the spirit and discipline the responsibility."