THE SELECTIVE EXECUTIVE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 123, 23 May 1912, Page 2

THE SELECTIVE EXECUTIVE.

COMMENDED BY FARMERS' USION. At the Auckland Provincial Conference of the Farmers' Union, held this morning, the following remit 3 from the. provincial executive came, up for 1. "This conference affirms ..the principle of nan-party government for tni3. Dominion, and considers ithat the time has come when the present 'party system' should be superseded by some form of government by elective executive, ac being a form of government calculated to more truly carry into effect 'the views of the electors and tending to eliminate from, the politics of the Dominion the many evils which have grown up around 'the "party system."' 2. "That a- committee be appointed by the Dominion Conference to consider and draft a scheme of government by elective executive for this country, in order that the Farmers' Union may be able to enter on an active campaign to bring this principle clearly before the electors of the Dominion." Mr. J. E. Makgill, in moving the adoption of the remit, recalled thait the conference had for several years past endorsed the formation of a farmers' party, but generally in vague terms. This- party, it might be added, was not one in the common sense of the term, in that members of it might vote with either Government or Opposition on all questions of common interest. The carrying of eimilar resolutions by the Dominion Conference clearly indicated that dissatisfaction was felt with the present system erf party government in the (Dominion. He drew an analogy from the Board of Directors of a. large company, as showing the effectiveness of an elective executive in their case, and contended that in a large measure the same might be true of a government. The elective executive had been employed in Switzerland for years past with much success, and bills advocating it had been introduced into the Dominion Parliament. On one occasion the second reading had been reached. Special committees had reported most favourably on it, but unfortunately the question was one ■which had never been really considered by the country at large. The industrial unrest now so prevalent was in no small measure due to the defects of the present mode of government, wliich always tended to increase party strife. Captain Cojbesk, in seconding, said the "tail" of the present Cabinet might by 'blunders lead to the deposition of men like the Hon. A. H. Myers, who were doing most important and useful work for the country. The present party system also deprived the country of 'the services of some members of the Opposition whom they could ill afford to dispense with. The motion was favoured by a large number of speakers. An amendment was lost, only six voting for it, and atfcer the words, "affirms the principle of nonparty government for the Dominion" had been deleted from the first remit, both were adopted without dissent.