DAY BY DAY.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16815, 5 June 1926, Page 6

DAY BY DAY.

Mr Ramsay MacDonald tackles the problem of the future Guidance of guidance of the Labour

the Parly in Parliament in Labour Partv. a very definite fashion in the Socialist Review for March. The ex-Premicr evidently feels keenly that only the Labour members of Parliament can control the legislative policy. lie writes: “With the growth of the parliamentary power of the Labour Party is an increasing tendency for bodies and committees outside to give us our policy and our programme. This indicates a healthy sense of possession perhaps, but it has its limits, which had better be recognised. It is a great temptation for conferences and committees to prepare schemes and proposals, pass them in the frame of mind of a public meeting or a propaganda council, and by (he votes of delegates who will never have to explain or defend them in the teeth of hostile criticism and down to the minutest detail, pass them and then hand them over to a body of unfortunate Members of Parliament, and especially Ministers, like orders issued to subordinates by military commanders. It will never work, and now is the time to make that plain to all whom it may concern. When to this is added the sanctification of phrases of no definite meaning but of fine romantic sweep -of expectation, like 'Socialism in our time,’ as though Socialism were a dose of something or a rigidly outlined erection in social architecture, the movement is being headed' straight to destruction. No Government can satisfy expectations the content of which every man can decide for himself; no Government can stand the racket and the bombardment that would follow. Still worse is it when programmes and policies are settled and words and phrases chosen under circumstances which mean that firm ideas are expressed in forms chosen for brave appearance sake —like confiscation. Re that as it may, it is weakness and not strength to hang millstones for mere show round the neck of the movement, and no Parliamentary Party worth its salt will allow its work to he settled for it by bodies who will not have to face the Parliamentary attack. We know as well as any other coterie tlie spirit of the Socialist movement and its goals, and we shall not allow our battle-grounds and our marchings to be dictated to us against our judgment.”