NON-PARTY GOVERNMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24102, 22 October 1941, Page 4

NON-PARTY GOVERNMENT

Sir, —1 should like to express my appreciation of the timely letter of your correspondent G. Hinton Knowles in last Friday's Hkkald with regard to non-party government. While casting 110 aspersions on present or past Governments, might I suggest that men who have the honour to represent and govern should be chosen for their outstanding character, intellect and efficiency. Are they? If not, for what are w'e fighting in this terrible war ? Surely if specialised training and hard study are required to produce the successful doctor, general, bus driver, electrician, not less, but more is necescary for a member of Parliament. Are we absolutely blind to the terrible dangers of make-shift leadership? Gone are the days when pioneers had to improvise—and often brilliantly —with whatever was to hand in men and material. The world race is now too swift, and before it is too late we ought to take a leaf out of the book of our ruthless enemy whose chief means of success is efficiency. We want our best men in Parliament, fewer perhaps, but with high standards and—yes —high salaries, so as to ensure rigid ideals of dutv and selfless service. Do It Now.

Sir, —I am pleased to see so many letters lately 011 the above subject. Many useful and constructive suggestions have been made; and with at least a year now in which to organise before there can be an election it should be possible to educate the electors and those who still bow down to parlv totem poles "until a majority will support equity," as your correspondent "Look Up" suggests. "Free Man" in Tuesday's Hkkald is correct in saying that party government is neither democratic nor free; hut he and "Look Up" are in error in assuming that non-party government cannot be brought about. "Look Up" is correct that varying interests and diverging opinions cannot be prevented. No true democrat wants to prevent them; but we must at all costs prevent the party system from getting us down and trampling on us as it threatens to do in New Zealand to-day. That is not democracy, but dictatorship. ] suggest that all those who see the desirability of non-party government should immediately form committees in every city and town throughout New Zealand to collect all suggestions, which could then be forwarded to a central organisation to have the gold sorted out from the dross. There will be no lack of volunteers to accept "Look Tip's" challenge. Give us a "bell" and show us his "cat." We are for — New Zealand Fiest.