I wish to draw your attention to a situation that has arisen in this country, the full implications of which are perhaps not yet realised by many people. As you know, ours is a democratic parliamentary form of Government. Under such a system in any country an ,important requisite would be the existence of two or more ,parties, any one of which could reasonably form a Govern­Anent. Indeed this is the position that has existed in all countries with democratic parliamentary systems. The need for this can easily be understood. One of the chief factors of such a system of Government is the right vested in the people to choose a Government and to change it, in order to give effect to a policy that is in accordance wiih public opinion and the wishes of a majority of the voters from time to time. This is an essential ingredient of the democratic system. On the other hand, different parties, with their different policies and programmes, try to reflect as closely as possible public opinion and the changing needs of the people. In all other countries with democratic parlia­mentary systems such parties have existed.

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