COALITION GOVERNMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21957, 8 May 1941, Page 9

COALITION GOVERNMENT

Sir, —Your correspondent, R. W. Anderson, unwittingly reveals himself befogged by his own lack of political and economic discernment. He writes: “May I suggest to Mr McKee that he again looks over the respective contributions commencing with the leading article in question? He has apparently misread the lot.” Then he quotes Mr Hooper's objection to the suggestion that “New Zealanders are deficient in the intelligence necessary to exercise their rights as citizens,” and concludes with: “Mr McKee chooses to incorrectly attribute this suggestion as possibly mine, whereas it is evident that Mr Hooper read it as an inference contained in your leading article.” This is a glaring example of Mr Anderson’s lack of discernment. He affirms: “It is evident ... Mr Hooper read it as an inference in your leading article” but as Mr Hooper did not refer to or mention this article then no evidence whatever exists to substantiate Mr Anderson’s assertion. To ascertain the origin of the above suggestion let me examine Mr Anderson’s criticism of your article. He writes: “You cite Mr Holland’s declaration —the vital need of the country is unity—unity of effort, unity in politics and unity of the people, and you applaud his assumption that this unity can be achieved by the setting up of a truly National Government. But can

it?” Later he answers: “It is evident that existing Party dissension has been too deeply implanted to be discarded at a moment’s notice.” This conclusion is arrived at after an extremely superficial examination, which is connhed to effects only. The relationship between cause and effect he is obviously not conversant with and therefore cannot indicate the fundamental obstacle preventing unity of the people in both effort and politics. Party dissenslpn_is an effect not a cause. Groping in the darkness of his mental fog Mr Anderson writes: “Wishful thinking by a minority will not convert our two political parties with ideals as poles apart into heavenly twins; nor will it help to win the war:” and in the same paragraph we find him “wondering on what grounds various newspaper editorials and recognised conservative interests base the assumption that the country is crying out for a Coalition Government.” What Mr Anderson has been endeavouring to demonstrate is that owing to the class-nature of capitalist society rival economic groups cannot sink their differences even when confronted with grave external danger; that class interests prevent unity of effort in the: economic and political spheres and frustrate operation of his ideal that “all members of our Parliament, irrespective of party, should surely be working for the common good, with one end in view.” This ideal requires for its practical expression a much higher level of intelligence ere our people will all rise in that spirit of mutual aid and sense of responsibility essential to defeat the ohward march of Fascism.

With this exposure of Mr Anderson’s limitations in economic science it is plainly obvious that the suggestion of deficient intelligence is inherent in his own letter.—l am, etc., OWEN J. F. McKee. Timaru, May 3.