NON-PARTY GOVERNMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24104, 24 October 1941, Page 4

NON-PARTY GOVERNMENT

Sir,—ln his criticism of the views expressed in my earlier letter. "Look Up" shows a conservative and defeatist spirit, ''lt can't he done'" is a had slogan, especially in these times. The attainment of a truce between antagonistic political parties .can be achieved if Ave will. Surely, it is not too much to hope and expect that all the parties have the ability to show sufficient good sense and patriotism to avoid antagonism on party principles and rules while searching together for a basis of Parliamentary representation which will be in the true interests of that democracy to which we aspire. The only alternative to a really democratic system is dictatorship in some form —exercised by an individual as hi the case of Germany and Italy, or by some particular party which may eventually become so strongly organiser! as to be enabled to sweep aside. or entirely ignore, all claims of those who do tiot adhere to that party's organisation. Sow Zealand has a golden opportunity to show the oldpr lands that she has appreciated and profited from their experience and the mistakes they have

made in the past. To simply follow the lead of the older countries is not pro- j gress. We claim nationhood, and must i he prepared to accept the responsibility of climbing our own ladder, instead ol j waiting for others to go through the trials and tribulations of social experiment and then to lift us to their own level. | Much has been done in New Zealand j during the past lew years in the way | of social progress. Much more remains to be done, and by adopting a more] truly democratic system of Parliamentary representation we shall be enabled to hand on to posterity an improved and strengthened foundation for the building of a greater human happiness in that better world, which is the ultimate aim of Christianity. (J. Hinton Knowtj-.s. Howick, October 22, 19-11.