PROBLEMS OF DEMOCRACY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22850, 4 October 1937, Page 15

PROBLEMS OF DEMOCRACY

LESSONS FROM GREECE "The antithesis between ancient and modern is totally false, because the heart of the matter remains unchanged," said Mr. K. H. Melvin at the People's University yesterday, when discussing the value of Greek political thought to present world affairs. He said the problems facing the Greek city States were identical with those facing the modern national States. These were to prevent freedom degenerating into anarchy, and to preserve the sovereignty of the State at the same time as international cooperation was developed. Mr. Melvin said that Plato would not have acknowledged British national or municipal government as democratic. In Greece a democracy was truly self-government. The Greek city States, with a population of about 100,000 each, allowed each male over the age of 17 years to participate in the determination of policy. Each month an advisory committee of 500 was elected; no citizen could serve more than twice on this, so there was no danger of caucus control. Corruption was very rare, because it was punished by death. Mr. Melvin said that modern municipal government was faced with the danger of the irresponsibility of many of the citizens. This had been one factor in the downfall of the Greek cities.