BUSINESSMEN IN POLITICS

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 68, 22 April 1930, Page 4

BUSINESSMEN IN POLITICS

We have often heard ii said that the people deserve the Government they eleet, and likewise we have had frequent reference to the desii'e for less Governnient in business ; but it remains for the Hon. J. B. Donald, Minister of Trade and Commerce, to really put his finger on a very weak spot in the public life of this country. What is really wanted, he says, is more business men in Government, and we believe the Minister is l'ight. What Parliament wants is ihe introduction of a very much higher standard of business abilitv tlian that which comprises it to-dav. Xew Zealand is facing difficult times, and for a solution of our problems we should have legislating for us the bcst brains tbe country can produce. But, as the Minister points out, how many of our leading business twen are prepared to offer themselves for Parliamentary hohour and make the necessary sacrifices? Not very many. At Auckland the Hon. Mr fdonald made a strong appeal for business men of ability to link up with his partv. There was a call, he said, for those of ability to help solve the problems of the Government and in the same way they would solve their own business problems. It is a well-known fact that what the Minister says is quite true. Too few outstanding men of business ability will permit their names to be associated with party politics, and many who would be prepared to make sacrifices hesitate to crown a successful business career with a political failure. Exaetly the same state of affairs is to be found in conneetion with our local body politics. It is often with the greatest difficulty that business men are persuaded to come fonvard and offer their services to the people in Conneetion with local body service. In Hawke's Bay we have had examples of this over and over again, and quite freqliently it has been witb the greatest difficulty that even the x*equisite number of names has been obtained to fill positions declared vacant on some of our public bodies. Unfortunately in New Zealand to-day there is tremendous public apatby so far as our local body administration is concerned. We believe this is possibly due to the long period of bealtby prices primary produeers have enjoyed and to the lengthy era of prosperity that the country has had pla-ced to its credit. There seems to have been on all sides a general desire to "leave it to the other fellow," no matter what capabilities for administration that "other fellow" might possess. However, we would like to think that times are changing, however, and if conditions ruling at the present moment continue indefinitely we feel sure one o'f the resnlts will be a public awakening so far as our local body administration is concerned, the cessation of much wasteful public expenditure and strenuous efforts to lift many heavy burdens from the over-taxed and in some respects, over - govemed people of this country. We live in a democratic age in which. the majority of us believe that democracy must rule. 1'n this country the system of government, be it good, bad or indifferent, is entirelv in the hands of thp people themselves) If the Government is unsatisfactory the people have only themselves with whom to find fault. If it is -good they have only themselves to congratulate. We sincerelv believC, with the Hon. Mr Donald, that . there are difficult times ahead of this Dominion, Until such a state is reached that our trade balance is placed on a more equitable basis ,and that hetter men are wanted in our public life to help surmount the problems that eonfront us. Unfortunately there are too few statesmen in ^Parliament to-day, too many of the type unfitted fOr such a responsibility. It is to our credit that ihe Parliament of this country was not alwavs thus. New Zealand in the past has attracted some very able men to tbese high position, men of learning, men of eulture and ability, business men who, in every sefise of the word, were leaders and statesmen. Oapable business men -of New /Zealand shoujd take to their hearts the appeal that has been issued by the Hon. Mr Donald. This country badly needs experienced and ca.pable business men in politics, not necessarily orators Or debaters, but shrewd and alert eommercial men who are prepared to render their country some service for the'-privi-leges they have efijoyed as citizens. The Minister *s' appeal suggests a happy slogan for oue of the parties at the next general eloc'tion and one that might well receive the -close attention of ihe electors — -pet 'us have less government interferenco in business and more cnpnble, a'lert and efficient business men in : government t ■ \