What Alternative?

Prospects for an alternative government are far from rosy. Labour have three big problems to solve before they can hope to offer themselves as an alternative. They must have new leadership which the party backs uniformly; at present pro Skinner and pro Nordmeyer factions are developing which is the reason some critics ascribe to the wily Mr Nash for hanging on to the reins so long.

Labour needs a policy. Since their first spate of legislation in 1935 to 40 they have really achieved little. They must decide whether they will socialize further or adopt a different course. Any direction is better than running around in ever widening circles.

Labour needs new men. Man for man they have not nearly the ability of National, although they are less susceptible to pressure, especially farming pressure. The great rift between parliamentary labour (Nash and cronies) and industrial labour (F. P. Walsh and side kicks) must be healed to present a united front before any impression will be made on the electorate.

The prestige of politics and politicians has been steadily declining in New Zealand since the second World War. The public at large have nothing but contempt for governments and look like developing a habit of shooting them out of office with alarming rapidity. The resultant ruptures, especially in industrial policy are now evident.

We have a high standard of living, we have our beloved social security. We are classed by political scientists as a highly developed social democracy. But now this country is faced with the most crucial question of all. Where are we going to go? What are we going to aim for? Up until now political policies have been based on the attainment of a high standard of living for the whole community. Now this is largely achieved the cancer of apathy has set in, which allows the government to indulge in Machiavellian tactics which would never be tolerated in a healthy political climate.