STATE'S BUSINESS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22675, 12 March 1937, Page 14

STATE'S BUSINESS

TASK OF GOVERNMENT WORK FOR ABLE MEN IMPORTANCE OF EXPERIENCE OPPOSITION LEADER'S APPEAL An appeal to the business community to help tho Nationalist Party to frame a policy for tho next general election that would bo in the best interests of the responsible voters of New Zealand, whom he named as a uound combination of the business element and the farmers, was made by tho Hon. A. Hamilton, Leader of the Opposition, in a luncheon address yesterday to the New Zealand Institute of Business Executives. The luncheon was held in the reception room of the Farmers' Trading Company, Limited, Mr. J. A. C. Ailum presided over a large attendance.

Describing government as the most important business in New Zealand, Mr. Hamilton said politics were interesting and serious, although not an exact science like ordinary business. In public life th?re was a lot of luck that was not so marked in business, yet it was gravely important to have sound business men, in whom everyone had confidence, in charge of the business of State. New Zealand possessed a wonderful heritage, which had to be preserved, and it was tho duty of all to support the soundest course. Management oi! Country

The Prime Minister was the general manager of New Zealand, and the members of his party were the executive heads, continued Mr. Hamilton. No other business influenced the lives of the people to the same extent as that of the Government, which also controlled greater interests and finances. The importance of choosing the right persons to manage the affairs of ' State was therefore very apparent. " The management of a country might best be run on business lines, if that were at all practicable, but it is not," said Mr. Hamilton. " It would be better if party politics were overthrown and sectional government abolished, and the people elected representatives like directors to conduct business for the country's good as a whole. It. is not possible, however, for one candidate to express the viewpoints of every person in his <;onstituency. Politicians are the outcome of the people's choice. " a great difficulty is the difference of opinion between '-Down and country interests. We should all be sufficiently interested in one another's welfare to be tolerant and work for the common good. Democracy is best. A dictator is not wanted in New Zealand, which wants to be managed by a majority vote, and we ask people to express this effectively and truly at elections. Those Best Fitted to Govern

" The present Government realises the advantages of democracy, and it has won by organisation and discipline,'.' continued the speaker. "We have to take cognisance of this, because democracy is here to stay. I am not against tho working man, but I maintain that those best fitted to govern arc men who, by ability and experience, have graduated from the bottom to executive positions. Why, if the men now in power are regarded as best qualified to mannge Now Zealand, were they not managing some business before they yntered Parliament? "We are looking for tho future brains of our country among potential business managers," said Mr. Hamilton. " We want them to write a policy that will hold the business community together. We have set out to do this, and hope for success. The Nationalist Party aoes not want to get back into office if tho people find their confidence lies in the work of the Labour Party. AVe will admire them for their choice, if that is the case, but do we always feel that the preservation of our mvividuality and security is safe? _ " It is about time New Zealanders took hold of themselves, and put up a fight to run their own country," concluded Mr. Hamilton. " No generation has enjoyed a bettor standard of living than we bave to-day, and we want to make sure it does not slip from us. YY e must organise the responsible vote into a united fighting machine, and then I believe we ought to win."