IS PARTY GOVERNMENTS A FAILURE.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7781, 7 February 1891, Page 5

IS PARTY GOVERNMENTS A FAILURE.

. [OOHT-IBUTBD.] .*.-.."■., t ~'.," ' '".,,. ~ tBT ; '.!.; A •■ One" of the political problema which Is __*dttally' Wording'its J pf prominence in the minda of the. think" ing public Is the question of an M 3_le6tive Executive" ; versus "'Gfpyerh_b*Jnb' party" A small hat compactandablo band of politicians, are at present engaged in foti-ulatlng a scheme "for the mentbtthela.terjlu/avqrof .theforuiajj, 'and it may be worth while to briefly coffl* siijer how t ar Government by; Far_y tiaa , been a success, and. where it,has failed.

At the first-iutroduotloh'of Constitutional Government, it was uutjUQsfcionablj ah absolutei toeoesslcy for a Governmeut to have a party, or,' in other word., a .*%torSable majority of members oi the I_s|*ißl4* fcure,who could be called upon to Vbta Impolicy Bills, even IC such a -coursfe* <■__*&_•- slfated the sinking of t_oir own Individual opinions. _he.number froia which _bl_ legislators aad administrators could-be chosen in > the' Colonies at tha. timtMw*. .comparatively Sinali; the rapid develop* maut of tne colonies produced „- _©c_%»l*Jy tot rapidand stable legislation ;aotx&A&mo had to be established in > the fi_a_* oial and mercantile circle. o£ tiso Mother Country, and Governmenti tm party ltueity with clearly deflned' party politics, the. direction of which-tight ho prognosticated for some considerable time in advance, was necessary to establish that conlidence, and to %iv® th_ col®* nies that amount of stability which ~w_. needed for the introduction of, English capital, for the opening up of the.,re sources of ,the country, add the eataijlKjßft- ' ttient of local Induat-ieU' '.' ' : ') Sdfar, then, I may safely say that pargy ,'goyerhmeht has been b'enencldl sufcceW, and has worked out its tidrpoije; bu. let us- consider whether, at the '.pre-Bt-ht time, it has not arrived at when it rgi&y be said to have datHV_d.sfc. usefulness, to have, iv fact; rah to seed."* When, th- tactics did played by_ both Ministerial and Opposition, parties in tho successive IM'rUaujeri£s* for a nuniber of years *Bast are' reviewed. Irapa-bfally; tho mpst 'Striking features which present 'it_ra_.s-.ve-''are the desire on' tho part o. the Opposition to oust the 6ovarn_ie:at.tc retainef_ee at al most "a_y cost. ■!l '■' '"* - Useful legislation aud taeasurcs of riv foro. have _ee,a made of s._b_dary "coli slderatiOn*; obteinmeut of 'seat- -d_ *ffi« Treasury beaches, or retainmen. of 'theijE ■It in possession, ha. been, c aU:alo__ r f!A line, deemed of jprimary '' f _rsor£rft.&& hehce, with the sfcatiite"Soeta cit&W&m with legislative enactments, r-iorfcaa of', social nature are miserably few s,ad!uit between.' ' '■■ ;! * ; "» Individual opinions and conviotldusltav. been BacriQced from time t6 timer, -ostfei* sibly pn the plea that public opihioct ! ■was not ripe for* measures which #ould" bring these convictions into practical Effect, Hftt in reality,* Because there waa <gj! loss of office lurkinpc in their shadow":- '•'- Herein New Zealand we have liac! rao. at the head of governments, pro&ssinj most absolute and. Holding most radical views regarding land tunur.. without making the least ciF.rt to legislate In that dkectloa. On the other bsg_xJ, we have.had.a "Premier whos. every flfcr. is socl_Ustic« but wheats legislation' J_.s_ been almost entirely the reverse. The rank and file of F&rliameafc, where party-Government obtains, axe in innumerable instances compelled, through a seasb of loyalty, to vote contrary to their convictions, and the- small and much abused knot of independent members are by the* paucity- of .their number reduced tc obstructionists, without- the power ol forcing' any legislation independent oi party. Reform, radical and democratic, must, under such conditions, bo la a state oi stagnation* and it would he well for poUU-iaas of all shades of opinion to eerlou-j* consider whether jplacWp; th. Government outside, of the House, or, in other words, having an elective Executive, competent' to bring dawn meaf qrea tor Spproved- or rejection, wl-iout. eq_aMln* he loss of office, Would liot be .preferable to the present form of Government ati. more conducive to , the of _h« people. .;'