DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22356, 1 September 1934, Page 12

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT

TO THE EDITOR Sir, —As a life-long supporter of the Labour Party and a keen admirer of Dr M'Millan, may I point out to “ Plain Bill ” (who should rather have signed himself “Willy Willy”) that if he aims to give the doctor publicity he is going the right way about it. In the first place, your correspondent knows perfectly well that “any man” includes “ you,” and “ any set of men living.” There is not the slightest violation of the sense of Burke —and no one knows that better than “Plain Bill.” In the second place, it must be obvious to everyone that to quote Burke, or anyone else, does not mean an adherence to his complete political philosophy. I suggest that “ Plain Bill ” knows this, but is deliberately trying to create the impression that Dr M’Millan is' either confused or inconsistent. No one, for example, would say that because “Plain Bill” quotes Dr M'Millan he therefore agrees with his political outlook. Ip the third place, your correspondent’s obvious leaning towards individualism discredits him in the eyes of all sound thinkers. . It is the subscription to the individualistic philosophy that has got the world into the sorry mess we find it in to-day. It “Plain Bill” wishes to subscribe to that utterly selfish, materialistic, and discredited theory he is welcome to his choice. For my part,. I adhere to the Socialistic ideal embodied in the demo-cratically-elected. democratically - controlled Labour Party.—l am, etc., Worker. TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Dr M'Millan replied very aptly to “Plain Bill’s” suggestion that bis letters were related to the selection ballot. At the same time one might be pardoned for the impression that the letters attacking Dr M'Millan are not unrelated to the same matter. It will be interesting to note whether more of Labour’s opponents join in the correspondence, nor is it amiss to ponder why Labour’s opponents are desirous that Dr M'Millan shall not be the selected candidate, I, for one, will look for an intensification of the campaign.—Tara, etc., Oamaru, August 31. PLAIN Mac. TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —In a true democracy, striving for the ideals advocated by the immortal Sir Thomas More, the healthy tone might be gauged fairly accurately by the enthusiasm engendered when topics of great public moment are being discussed by earnest men—men of vision, integrity and honour who are concerned with principles, but not personalities. When contestants in a newspaper controversy allow personal animus to dominate iu a debate, principles are excluded, and, the letters being abusive, are not conducive to enlightenment. As a daily reader of your paper I should welcome letters by “Individualist” if his aim is to present his viewpoint to the public; but it is certainly not edifying to read a letter written with a pen dipped in vitriol. I am not a personal friend of Dr M'Millan, but over a period of years I. have had many opportunities of appreciating the many acts of kindness he has performed to poor and suffering humanity, in his capacity as a medical practitioner. The attempt on the part or “Individualist" to impute crafty motives to a man who is the soul of honour is anything but “playing the game.”—l am, etc., Duoald M'Klosk. . Dunedin, August 30.