RECOGNISING SERVICE.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 March 1935, Page 4

RECOGNISING SERVICE.

The proposal to hold a non-political function at Hawera on Saturday next to wish Mr. H. G. Dickie, M.P., success in his forthcoming visit to London is one to be commended from many points of view. It is primarily a tribute to Mr. Dickie as. a worthy representative of his constituency, and to the honour he has received from fellow Parliamentarians who have chosen him to be one of the representatives of the Dominion at the Empire Parliamentary Association’s conference in London. It is happily true in most New Zealand constituencies that when an election fight is over any member elected considers himself the representative of all his constituents whether political friends or foes, and that has certainly been the case with Mr. Dickie. The purport of his intended visit to England is wider, however, than that of a representative of the people in the Parliament of the Dominion. The Empire Parliamentary Association has for one of its ideals the co-operation of all the Parliaments in the Empire in matters that will assist in the better government of the British realms. With the swing from democracy towards authoritative forms of government in so many States the Empire Parliamentary Association may find its sphere of action become even wider. It may be one of its functions to bear testimony to the soundness of the British Parliamentary system of government, and that being based upon the freely expressed will of the people, it can stand up to the ills that afflict mankind with all the courage and determination that dictatorship is said to produce. For such a purpose New Zealand’s representatives will be all the better equipped if they leave the Dominion assured that they have with them the goodwill of the people they are trying to serve. Saturday’s function should leave Mr. Dickie feeling that such goodwill is his in full measure.