DEMOCRATIC GROWTH.

Wairarapa Age, 7 September 1937, Page 4

DEMOCRATIC GROWTH.

MB. MARTIN-SMITH’S W.E.A. LECTURE. Continuing his series of W.E.A. lectures on “Social Change,” Mr. P. Martin-Smith, M.A., L.L.8., spoke in the Municipal Lecture Hall last evening on “Democracy and Representative Government.” Mr. C. J. Williams presided over a very good atten= dance.

Having touched on the emergence of democracy from the struggle of competing groups to exercise sovereign power in the State, Mr. Martin-Smith traced ’its evolution in considerable detail, as it appeared over an extended period of time in the experience of many countries. In great part the history of evolving democracy had been and still was one of struggle between groups intent on the advancement of their own interests, as distinct from expert and scientific planning to give all the people what was best for them. It was very commonly assumed <hat the interests of a section of a group were essentially the interests -of the whole mass of people in. the group. The lecturer spoke at length of the modern development of social services—an effort to promote the general good and welfare of the people. He dealt also with the slow extension of the franchise in Britain and elsewhere, with the party political system and with syndicalist and other creeds. Observing that we had iiow attained political democracy, ”he criticised its shortcomings and observed that true democracy was more than a form of government. It was a method of living together in accordance with principles of justice and in conditions making for general public welfare. The true functioning of property rights as a major problem of democracy was discussed by Mr. MartinSmith at some length. On concluding, Mr. Martin-Smith answered a number of questions and a general discussion took place. A hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer was carried by acclamation.

The series of lectures, on “Social Change” is to be interrupted on the occasion of Mr. Martin-Smith’s next Visit to Masterton, on September 20, when he will deliver an address on “The Eastern Crisis.”