OVER-GOVERNED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 281, 28 November 1938, Page 10

OVER-GOVERNED.

MANY PARLIAMENTS. AUSTRALIAN POSITION. COMMENT BY RETIRED JUDGE Commenting <>n the propiwal recently put forward in Australia for the abolition <>f State Parliament!:. Mr. \V. 11. Mocatta, K.C., a retired district court judge of New South Wales, who arrived by the Niagara this morning, said that in his opinion the Common wealth was over-governed. "The general feeling ill Australia is that there are too ninny legislatures." he said. "There is a growing feeling that one l'arliament should be sufficient, but there are many difficulties in the way because of the vastness <>f the couutrv.

"If unification is i»rouglit about those elected to office will require to have a wide knowledge of the needs of the whole continent and not merely of particular districts. For instance, a Government that legislates for New South Wales will also have to legislate for Darwin, the desert country, and West Australia. "Yes. there are grave difficulties." a<lded Mr. Mocatta. "Some change may be made, but it will take a lot of discussion before anything definite is decided upon, as there are so many local interests to be considered." Mr. Mocatta is proud of the fact that he was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in IS9I by Sir Edmund Barton, who became first Prime Minister of the Commonwealth in 1801. Fifty years ago Mr. Mocatta resided in Auckland for two or three years, and has recollection* of riding to hounds. at Ellerslie. He carries a mark of a fall that he had in those early days, and to-day he said. with a laugh, that he was never likely to forget the short period he lived in the Dominion. Referring to Australia in general. Mr. Mocatta said there was a feeling of apprehension at present, as people feared troublous times. Additional taxation wad to lie imposed, and the manhood of the country was to be mobilised. Mr. Mocatta was made a K.C. in 1020, He retired from the Bench several years ago. He lias come to New Zealand to meet the Akaroa, on which his wife and daughter are returning from a visit to England. States Over-ruled. Reference to the position was made also by Mr. T. Stanley, secretary of the Auckland Builders and General Labourer' Union, who ha* been on a visit to Sydney. "It has become a live issue, owing to the overlapping that takes place and the heavy administration expenses." he said. "With about «>OO members of Parliament it can he understood that legislation in Australia is an expensive business." Actually, he continued, in spite of their own Parliaments, the States were not autonomous, and any legislation thev passed could be over-ruled by three officials of the Federal Parliament. The Australians had now decided that the system w as cumbersome, antiquated and inefficient.