TE AWAMUTU COURIER Printed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays FRIDAY, 26th MARCH, 1943 POLITICS AND THE VOTER

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 66, Issue 5597, 26 March 1943, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU COURIER Printed on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays FRIDAY, 26th MARCH, 1943 POLITICS AND THE VOTER

ALTHOUGH the general election is unlikely before November, political party organisations are already advancing their preparations for the campaign, and there is obviously a keener interest in “ politics ” than has been noticed before at this early stage of an election year. This interest is all for the good. Too many people in past years have not become interested, and then only mildly, until polling day was fast approaching. Too many have gone into the polling booths with no clear idea of the political issues at stake, and mindful only of an admonition to “ Vote for So-and-So.” And very many people—notably in 1935—have been astonished at the Jesuits of the voting. Having lived for the preceding three years in their own little groove, they have been out of the main currents of opinion. Hav-

ing in past years seen reason to vote for a party or a man, they have not troubled to acquaint themselves with changing conditions and policies, and they have gone to the booth confident that as their candidate, for whom they voted before, has always been elected, he will be elected again. This unthinking approach to the citizen’s political duty, and the habit of voting for a party, or a person, or a “ ticket,” are bad in a democracy. Democratic government cannot flourish if a large proportion of voters are merely the yes-men ’ ’of some political spellbinder.

This year, more than ever before, there is need for the voters to think for themselves, to consider party policies, and not be distracted by personalities and prejudices. A Labour Government is in office, giving effect to a large and varied programme. It hopes—and intends, if the electors permit it—to re-shape this Dominion according to its own ideas. Are its ideas practicable ? If they are -practicable, is the kind of Dominion it has hi view the kind of Dominion that the ordinary man and woman wish for — the kind that they would wish for their children ? These are fundamental questions for the voter, and he ■should not delay their consideration until he has to make a mark on a white paper in a polling booth. Under ideal conditions there would be no need for an election “ campaign,” in which undue importance is given to the merits of politicians as speakers and to the energy and degree of importunity of their organisers. But, so many voters in the past having been apathetic, the organisations at work are doing a public service in . . ’ ■ng men and women now of the duty which will be theirs at the end of the year. The more that voters can be induced to think now about the real issues, the less likely is it that they will be confused or side-tracked later.