PUBLIC OPINION

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21531, 20 September 1941, Page 9

PUBLIC OPINION

CURRENT VIEWPOINTS FEDERAL UNION (To the Editor) Sir,—One notices that the supporters of Federal Union place an argument upon the fact of ” united we stand and divided we fall.” The real danger to the suggestion comes from the reason why Federal Union is advocated, that only by federating can we stop world war. Yet the Federal Unionists admit that all the seeds of warfare are still in existence except that of sovereignty. In other words, they have e.lminated the kings and princes and left the rest. Until we realise that it is only by a change of humanity from selfishness to selflessness that we can ever hope for peace and that there is only one way of doing that, we shall still be beating the air by adopting these new orders like : federal union, social credit, etc., and that the main problem ?ver remains.—l am, LEO KAY. Hamilton, Sept. 18. ISSUE OF ELECTION (To the Editor) Sir, —A few’ nights ago Mr Nash admitted that the people of New Zealand are now largely governed by regulations which are so numerous that Parliament could not consider them if it sat 12 hours a day every day of the year. I think members of both parties should thank Mr Nash for telling the people that the Labour Party is no longer the whole Government. It has abdicated in favour of the people who make the regulations—the heads of State departments. There is still one law that may save the situation—the law which says there shall be an election this year. Let the people insist that this law be obeyed and let the people ask every candidate whether he will see that Parliament will again exercise its rights to govern in a democracy. Party issues have gone and the election must be fought on whether we are to remain a bureaucracy or once more become a democracy.—l am, etc., FREE NEW ZEALAND. Hamilton, Sept. 18. UNITED PARLIAMENTARY EFFORT (To the Editor) Sir, —Your correspondent, Mr D. Southon, is able and clear-thinking, yet he fails to see my point, that what is most needed at the moment is unity in the face of the enemy. The will of a people is expressible in other ways than by the use of the vote at election times. My hope is that the Government will yet come to see and feel that the will of the people of New Zealand is to be spared the divisive throes of a general election this year, and to be given a united lead by the existing Parliament, the personnel of which is probably about as good (or as bad) as would be that of the body of men we should elect to replace present members. I write to express the hope that the will of our people is in this direction, to express the belief that it is so, and to warn the Government that it is not pleasing the will of the people by its present tactics. I am sorry to trouble you with that phase “the will of the people.” so often, but Mr Southon’s fear that I am launching an attack on " democratic rights” seems to make it necessary to rub home the fact that only as by some plain expression of the will of the people do I hope for that unity which simply must be, if we are to make our maximum effort. We shall lose nothing by having our socialisation delayed, nor by extending the life of the present Parliament. Unless we can be really united we may lose our very all.—l am, etc., Cambridge, September 17. JUSTICES OF THE PEACE (To the Editor) Sir, —A night or two ago I desired the services of a Justice of the Peace to witness a signature to a document but was unable to locate one. Next morning I was surprised to find a neighbour held the necessary commission. I am sure there must be others who have found themselves in the same position as myself. Would it not, therefore, be a good suggestion to publish the names of those J. who are resident in the town ? The list could then be cut out of the paper and held for reference. Another suggestion is that a fairly large scale plan of the borough showing street names should be permanently exhibited, say, outside the library. This xvould not only be providing very useful information for visitors, but would also be of great service to our Home Guardsmen and members of other war-time organisations who should thoroughly “ know their town ” from all points of the compass.—T am. etc., SERVICE. Hamilton, Sept. 16. [A list of Justices of the Peace resident in Hamilton, and whose names and addresses appear in the telephone book, comprises Mrs H. C. Ross. Mrs A. T. R. Mclntosh (Tuhikaramea), Dr. H. Douglas, Dr. St. L. H. Gribben, Dr. F. D. Pinfold, Messrs A. K. Alexander, £. J. Bennett. Wm. Bourne, A. Clothier, H. D. Caro, T. A. Cooper, F. Findlay, J. H. Gittos, P. B. Gavan, J. R. Fow, H. J. Greenslade, P. Hunter, R. Kay, J. Jebson, J. A. La Trobe, W. J. Lilley. A. E. Manning, E. H. Mayall, F. F. McGuire, J. Mcßae, A. Morris, T, Parker. W. H. Paul, J. Prenton, J. Primrose, T. G. Reynolds, J. Riddell, A. G. Sanford, M. M. Shaw, J. F. Shepherd, G K. Sinclair, F. J. Tattley, F. W. Thomas, D. D. Wilson, A. A. Woodward and S. N. Ziman. In addition there are Justices of the Peace resident within a few miles of Hamilton, at least one in each district.— Editor, Waikato Times.]

FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY (To the Editor) Sir,—l note there is a great deal of political activity and criticism going on at present. The most active in this direction appears to be the conservative party, especially Messrs Holland, Doidge and Poison. Mr Holland was asked to accept a seat in the War Council but refused, preferring the party fight. It appears to me that their one ambition is to get on the Treasury benches but unless the people >ose all sense of reasoning they will remain in their proper place. We also have their spokesman, Professor Algie, preaching his so-called freedom and democracy. I heard him at Frankton the other night. He told his audience that we have little or no democracy and freedom in New Zealand and that we are fast approaching Italy and Germany. I wondered what our Government war effort was for when I heard this statement. I am sure the great mass of people in this Dominion realise that we are fighting this war to preserve democracy. I would say, to sum up his speech, it really means freedom to exploit to the fullest without regard . to the economic welfare of the people. It struck me very forcibly that Mr Algie refrained from mentioning the fact that it is the anti-Socialists who are treacherously betraying the people of France and are helping Germany to consolidate in Europe. Mr Algie will find it very hard to educate the people of this country to his version of freedom and democracy. Prior to the last general election in New Zealand I was in Australia, and the press of that country made the issue a fight between socialism and private enterprise, but they failed to say that private enterprise in Australia is being wiped out bv the development of monopoly capitalism The same thing would take place in this country if it were allowed to take its course. Ask any man in a small business how is trade, and you will invariably get the same answer—finding it hard to compete. Yet in the face of this we find some people calling out for more individual effort. We hear a good deal of a new social order after the war, but what form it will take remains to bp seen. One thing is certain; it will have to come from a government with some humanitarianism in its veins. My hope is that we will finally arrive at some form of social order where everything will be made for use and not profit, and I am sure we will go far to eliminate wars.—l am, etc., OBSERVER. Hamilton, Sept. 15.