The General Election. TO THE EDITOR.

Otago Witness, Issue 2691, 11 October 1905, Page 13

The General E lection. TO THE EDITOR.

Sic, — As ihc date of the general election draws nearer it becomes more and more tln> duty of the citizens of New Zealand to a?k themselves for whom they are going to vote, and their reasons for voting for that particular person. Eighty years ago Dr Thomas Brown laid down three, prominent dutios which each one owes to his fellow citizens. They ai"e : — 1. The obedienca to the particular system of laws under which he may live.

2. The duty of defending th© social system, under which he lives, from every species of violent aggression. 3. The duty of increasing to the best of his power the means of public happiness in th© nation, by every aid which he can give to its external and internal resources, and especially, as the most important of all ends, by every amelioration which it can be nationally prudent to attempt, if any existing evils, in the laws and general forms of polity. The first duty is one which it is peculiarly the pleasure of the people of New Zealand to observe. Violent aggression against our social system is only likely to come from the outside at present, 'and is more a matter for our military experts to attend to than one which demands the serious attentions of the citizens at an election.

The third duty is one which should appeal strongly to every citizen who has the welfare of his country at heart", and it bears upon most of the really imp&rtant questions of the day in cur politics. For many years past New Zealand has had, at the head of her affairs, a man who> has passed many beneficent laws for the amelioration of the lot of those who are bearing the hea,t and burden of. the day, and much credit is due to him for his legislation, but legislation does not constitute even a large portion of the duties of a ruler. The holding of an even balance between governor and governed, the parrying out of the laws so that they shall not press with undue severity on individuals, the righting of wrongs done inadvertently, and the honest and pure conduct of public affairs are of quite as much importance in the government of a State as the passing of beneficent laws alone. To those who are looking for a system of purer political administration there is one question at the present time which looms larger than any other. During the present session I have attended the di&cuasions in the House of Representatives on many occasions, and I have observed far too much tendency on the part of members to subordinate the welfare of the country to party interests. This leads in turn, amongst the lesp. self-respecting members, to personal attacks, which are neither dignified nor calculated to inspire the respect of the public. This subordination of national affaire to party interests is largely due to the fact that constituencies are apt to estimate the value of a member according to the amount of money that he secures to be .spent in his ' district. In fact, this master of the distribution of the public funds has been even used by the Government as a lever to compel members aud districts to support its administration. Thus districts desiring a share of the surplus wealth of the colony are practically compelled to support the ministry of the day and put aside all national or colonial asmrations. In fact, it is well known that it "is greatly to the disadvantage of a district to elect an Opposition member.

When a country has reached a stage at which it is possible for the head of its Government not only to us© the public funds to secure support, but also to openly admit it, without strong protest from the people, the political morality of that -country requires awakening. It Js evident that one of two things must take place: either the people must elect v higher type of man as representative or they must take steps to provide for a system for the distribution of the public funds in such a way that they cannot be used to purchase political support. Perhaps the best plan will be to adopt both methods. When a Government gets sufficient power to insure its continuance in office by compelling the people to keep it in on pain of not eharinsj m the distribution of the surplus wealth of the country, or, in other words, by fostering a narrow local spirit of parochialism and playing upon it with public money it becomes autocratic. A self-confidence bom 1 J + knowledge of power is always apt to lead to despotism, which, in a young and independent colony like New Zealand? must soon become intolerable. We are at tihe parting of the ways. Aswe choose now for high and enlightened patraotism or narrow and selfish parochialism, so shall the future of the country be Wihere a country is divided up into small sections, each one trying to get the biggest share of the good things that are going, without a thought for the welfare of tno whole community, the higher national virtues, such as love of country, foresight for the coming generations, and mutual protection against the external enemy, are not developed. In their place the vices of local pride, personal aggrandisement, and a false sense of security come and warp the higher instincts of the people. To me the present political methods adopted to set matters right are crude and powerless. The Government has represented the political morality of the people, and unless the electors can be. intelligently brought to see the fallacy of their narrow parochialism, and the danger to the country of allowing the public funds (provided by the themselves) to be used for buying political support, nothing _ can be done to improve matters. Pinpricks are useless. The passions which have lately been displayed by one member, and) the privileged attacks on persons outside the House who cannot defend themselves, f u re much to be deprecated and only bring discredit on a good cause. The principle of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth ill becomes one who poses as a patriot and reformer, as the liberator of his country from the thraldom of a despot. The only plan is for those who have grasped the ideal of a higher political life to point out r'he way calmly and fearlessly. The electors are intelligent people, and fchev only require teaching that it is in tho highest interests of the country, and therefore of themselves, to elect those candidates who are above selling their souls for the sake of their seats in the House— to vote for men who are strong and brave and determined to do the right ; in fact, to vote for the men who realise their duty as citizens, and who have the courage and purpose to do it. The electors should be taught io realise and keep before them tha fact that this country may have a high and noble destiny to fulfil, and that upon them individually rests tho duty of helping to fulfil that destiny. , I aDi not .wguing. in fayou^ pi wy poU-

tical party. I feel that we are at a very critical tiir.o in our history, and I would urge New Zoalanders, and particularly the young New Zcalandcrs, to sink the barriers of political parties, and wijbh true, inquiring minds seok for that which will lead to a higher tone in our Parliament, a more equitable system of distributing our surplus weillh. and an cver-m creasing I purity in the administration of our public affairs. — I am, etc., F. Wallace Mackenzie. Wellington, September 19.

On Sunday week it was announced from the pulpit of the Ashburton Presbyterian Church that a member of tho congregation had offered to contribute £400 towards the building funds for the proposed new church when the subscriptions promised totalled £1100. Subscriptions amounting to £550 have already been promised, and a special appeal is about to be made to double that sum. The estimated cost af the new church is £3000, and tenders will be called for its erection as soon as the sum of £1500 is in hand.