The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun. SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1935. OPEN WINDOWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 70, 23 March 1935, Page 8

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, The Echo and The Sun.

SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 1935. OPEN WINDOWS.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the.good that ice can do.

Attention was drawn in this column yesterday to the value of the free discussion that blows about the Government's mortgage relief proposals. Those who would abolish Parliamentary institutions because they so often work slowly and unsatisfactorily, should consider what is gained by this free and open consideration of legislation in and out of Parliament and' ask themselves whether they would care to entrust the introduction of such far-reaching measures to a dictator who worked without a Parliament and perhaps with a muzzled Press. Recent British experience provides two very striking , examples of the same sort of thing. The Unemployment Act of last year was passed after lengthy consideration by Parliament. It changed the basis of unemployment relief,'and under it elaborate regulations were framed for the assessment of benefits. These regulations soon raised a storm of criticism. There were protests in the House of Commons and ugly demonstrations in several cities. The Government promptly bowed to the storm and withdrew the regulations, so that the country witnessed the rare spectacle of the Government, with an enormous majority, admitting that at the fbst test a measure of the first importance was found to be so unworkable that it had to be abandoned. The point to be stressed here is that discontent had safety valves, and these proved efficient. Members of the House of Commons were able to tell the House and the Government important facts about the working of the new regulations, and to convey the feeling of their constituents; and through the Press this information was conveyed to the nation. It is certain that the demonstrations in force against the regulations would have been graver had the masses not known that Parliament gave, them a peaceful method of stating their grievances. That the House of Commons has declined in- quality and authority is. a criticism frequently- levelled against it, but there is comfort in the study of such debates as those on unemployment. Still more impressive are the discussions on the India Bill. Here the House of Commons reaches a very high level of knowledge, sincerity, and practical skill in politics. It may be argued with'some force ,that passion, prejudice, and ignorance are still forces to be reckoned with in any consideration of the Indian problem; but when this is conceded there is a great body of debate of which every adherent of democracy can-be proud. The greatest, and most perilous experiment in democracy is presented for discussion and, if necessary, amendment, to the elected assembly of the Mother of Parliaments, and the debate is long, good-tempered, candid, and marked by a larger body of special knowledge and experience than one could find in any other popular assembly in the world. Every point of view, from that of the Conservative "die-hard" to that of the Labour left-winger, is expressed, and while there is wanrith there is little or no unnecessary heat. Many of the members have first-hand knowledge of the subject. They may have served in the Army in India or in the Indian Civil Service. They may ' have been members of Indian Com.nissions. For example, Mr. J. C. Davidson, a member of the Ministry, spoke as one who had travelled 10,000 miles through the Indian Native States as a member of a Commission, and had sat on the Round Table Conference and on the Joint Select Committee that made the report of which the present Bill is the outcome. Such men speak from deep study of and special acquaintance with the tremendous question before the House. They speak in an open forum, where their statements can be challenged, and their views are broadcast by the Press to their countrymen and to the jvaiting world. What would be the position if Britain had a Government like that of Germany? There would be no real criticism of the Bill, for such a Parliament as there might be would be but the creature of the dictator, and the Press would be muzzled. The people, would have to accept the Bill without adequate understanding of it. And, Avhat might be much more important," India would also have to accept it on" the same terms. Open windows are as necessary to general political health as they are to the physical well-being of the individual.