WANTED A STATESMAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22065, 22 September 1933, Page 8

WANTED A STATESMAN

TO THE EDITOE.

Sir, —The terrible mess in which we in New Zealand find ourselves to-day is due to the want of statesmanship. Confucius said:—“lf a State is governed by the principles of reason, poverty and misery are subjects of shame. If a State is not governed by the principles of reason, riches and honour are subjects of shame.” Coming nearer to our day, John Ruskin said: “The world is too much governed; the few govern, the many are misgoverned and witless enough to suppose they make the laws.” I am pleased that your correspondent calls to my memory men of a past day. May it not be true that, as Shakespeare say's: “The evil that men do live after them, the good is often interred with their bones.” Sir George Grey left on record in our parliamentary journals this assertion concerning land acquisition, monopoly, and gambling in land: “The means by which they acquired those lands, I will not go into, but _ nevertheless they in great part got possession of those blocjcs in fee simple by being either the legislators or the administrators of the law. So even in a democracy we are not free from the machinations of self-interest. But perhaps Sir George Grey belonged to a school when we had not full political and social rights. Mr Seddon, speaking before the Federal Labour Party in Australia in the first week in June, 1906, said: “In New Zealand the class who have benefited most by the Labour legislation are the capitalist and landowning classes.” What stronger indictment could you have of the superstition that elected representatives represent the people after going to the House? Any man who thinks they do must be foolish indeed. Politics has become a game, largely a game of bluff. The common ■ people are tired of the game. It is too expensive. A statesman is a man who wants to do something for his country; a' politician one who wants to do something for himself. When you have a statesman you will know it. because I venture to give you the standard in the words of the poet;— Statesman yet friend of truth! of soul In action faithful, anddn honour clear! Who broke no promise, served no private end; Who gained no title, and who lost no friend; Ennobled by himself, by all approved. Praised, wept, and honoured by the muse ha loved. —I am, etc., Economic Diagnostician. Wellington.

Other Letters to the Editor appear on page 9.