THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1933. THE LEGION AND REFORM.

Wairarapa Age, 28 August 1933, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1933. THE LEGION AND REFORM.

In what has thus far been said publicly by spokesmen of the New Zealand Legion on the subject of governmental reform it is not altogether easy to see even the outline of a working plan that will work. On the other hand, the legion appears to be servimg an undoubtedly useful and promising purpose as a focusing centre for political thought and it is possible; that the way is thus being opened to the presentation in practical shape of far-reaching and significant reforms. In a statement made last week, the Wellington secretary of the legion, Mr. D. M. Robertson. mentioned as one outcome of recent discussion, very pleasing to the leaders of the movement, a li gradual acceptance of the foundation principle of the legion, that nothing can be effected from any angle, including the economic angle, without competent government, or the alternative—mob rule followed by autocracy." Speakers at various meetings (Mr. Robertson added) are gaining ground because of the gradual acceptance of the principle of decentralisation of control. One speaker recently pointed out that because all government commenced with autocracy, all government would return to autocracy, unless the electors took the stand that the liberty of democracy was a sacred trust, to be preserved from the licence of mob rule inevitably followed again by

autocracy. It is probably true that short of a development of autocracy which is repugnant to our national traditions and ideals, the decentralisation of governmental authority offers this country and some others their only hope of achieving competent government and satisfactory conditions of social order, justice and security. Considered from this standpoint, tho decentralisation of governmental authority means much morS than the reorganisation of local government, though that in itself is important. The degree of decentralisation needed is one that would not only provide for the most direct and efficient control and treatment of local affairs by authorities organised for that purpose, but would carry this process of change to the point of relieving the central administration—Cabinet, Parliament, and the national public service—of the mass of detail in which it is now bogged and cut off in great part from effective contact with the community. As regards both local and national affairs, it is a matter of arriving at the simplest, most direct and most effective methods of administration. Under stress of circumstances over an extended period of years, some limited progress has been made in the clarification of our system of government. Local authorities of comparatively recent constitution, such as electric power boards and district highways councils, are organised on a rather bolder and more methodical plan than those whose roots extend back to the days of early settlement. Something has been done to modify political control of the railways and some stumbling steps have been taken in the direction of .the organisation of national transport. Far bolder action and speedier progress are needed, however, if the public affairs of the Dominion are to be handled to the best advantage and in a way that will conduce to the happy solution of economic and other problems. Past experience has demonstrated with apparent finality that in the absence of some great national awakening, any lead by a Ministry in office in the direction of simplifying and clarifying the system of government is doomed to break down in face of

widespread detail opposition, largely of a parochial kind. The history at large pf attempts in this country even at. the reform of local government, which is only a part of the total issue involved, is one of intentions often, declared/ and failing as often to materialise. The question now raised—it may without extravagance be called a question of supreme interest and importance—is whether the New Zealand Legion is capable of stirring .up an effective national demand for such a reform of our whole system of government as would provide a much better foundation than is at present available for the economic and other adjustments on which the continuity, at least, of the democratic tradition probably depends.