Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 10, No. 1. February 28, 1947

En Travail

En Travail

In the western democracies, contrary to the theories expounded by Political Scientists, the determination of policy has almost exclusively become the domain of a few. Political parties have been reduced to mere electioneering bodies whose function it is to return every three or five years respectively, a majority of their members to the Legislature. The New Zealand Labour Party has not failed to fit itself into this respectable Parliamentary pattern.

The recent general election has shown to what extent this once militant political body has lost its contact with the people and the trade union movement. With it the Labour Party has sacrificed its independence of action and its leaders have deliberately repudiated the pledges which brought them into power 12 years ago. The election was conducted in a spirit of complete political apathy, as it was difficult for the voter to detect any essential differences between the two major political parties. On the one hand the Labour Party was drawing attention to its past achievements while the Tories merely promised to maintain them.

The National Party accused the Prime Minister of aiming at "Ultimate Socialism," an aim which Mr. Fraser could not repudiate quickly' enough. Only three months prior to November 27, Prime Minister Attlee re-affirmed his party's determination to lead Britain towards Socialism—ultimately. Socialists in the country would be pleased to know what the present lead' ers of the Labour Party have in mind. Is the Fabian programme of ultimate socialism which, we believe, has been has been the basis of Labour policy for the last 45 years, to be discarded in favour of MacDonaldism? Are we being prepared for still greater respect ability in order to maintain and not even reform a vicious economic system?

The record of the Labour Governments in New Zealand, Britain and Australia has been a splendid one. In their internal policy they have had until now the whole-hearted support of worker, small farmer, and, incidentally, not an inconsiderable number of intellectuals. The main criticism from their own ranks has arisen chiefly on issues of foreign policy. Here, the essential weakness of a Reformist party has been more clearly demonstrated. A party which is pledged to maintain and administer a capitalist state cannot be expected to have a progressive, socialist foreign policy aimed at the strengthening of the democratic and socialist organisations abroad. The next few years will be decisive ones for the British Labour movement. The Labour Party will only be able to maintain its leadership if it succeeds in regaining its former militancy by adopting "Socialism" as its aim in action.

It must rid itself of "MacDonaldism" and its obscure dogma' and it must realise fully that compromise with the Tories will/lead to its own destruction as a political party of the working class. The New Zealand Labour Party must take up the challenge and again become a dynamic force in the life of this country, instead of being merely an electioneering body whose functions are inadequate, uninspiring and in the end—negative.

Socialist.