The Press. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1899. THE PARTY SYSTEM.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10268, 10 February 1899, Page 4

The Press. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1899. THE PARTY SYSTEM.

There is going to be an attack at the coming election on the party system. Its evils have become so apparent that even some Seddonites have declared in favour of an Elective Executive. As we have said before, we doubt the sincerity of those who denounce the evils of the party system and are yet its obedient tools. By acting as they do, they proclaim their insincerity and their weakness, and we do not know which is worse in anyone who is a representative of the people. Those, we repeat, who are against partyism can manifest their independence with the aid of an Elective Executive Bill, but do they ? Let us take Major Steward as an example. He has, on several occasions, introduced an Elective Executive Bill, but- is there one member in the House more obedient to the party whip, or more crouching in his obeisance before the Premier? And there are others that we could mention who emulate Major Steward's example. There are some who admit the evils of party, but consider that these' evils are inseparable from popular government. It used to be an old saying that a man "ate a peck of dirt" in his lifetime, and they improve that aphorism by stating that a politician has to eat several pecks, and they see no objection to the operation being quickly performed. Their position has been stated in tbat unique.and vigorous book of F. W. Newman's called " Hebrew Theism." Writing of what he called "The Considerate Politician" Newman said : —'"Saith the considerate statesman : 'This would be a sin only it is necessary. The world is so imperfect,* tbat it cannot be carried on by purity. It were better that I needed not to corrupt'the electors; it is said that I must speak and vote against my heart* consent. A time, it is to be hoped, shall come, when these things shall be superseded. But now we must carry on the King's Government as best we may. God forbid that we forget the duties which each owes to his party. .... Public life is a hard master, and demands rigid service. It orders us to stifle many misgivings, and beware of raw conscience. . . ". Truly unto thee Public Life is a hard master, O statesman. It makes thee a slave, and not a servant; a tool, not a hireling.' " It is the despair of Democracy for our* politicians to say that purity in government is impossible. Mr Newman in another part says wrong-doing can never blossom into blessing. The party system has its evils. It sears the consciences of men, but there might exist party organisation without mengiving up their souls into tho keeping of v ambitious or unscrupulous _ien. There will ever be found some politicians whose polestar is 'ambition and self-aggrandisement, but there are others whose goal is the good cf the nation. Why should thcsa who desire progress not vote for progress and not

wink at or condone wrong-doing of their own party? It is this alliance with evil that has afflicted the party system, and it is not an essential of the system. It is a mere accidental of it, and one that can be got rid of. The nation can never be put right by wrong-doing. Those who say: "Let mc argue (or vote) for the wrong cause, and my party shall admire mc • let mc go through crooked ways and I shall set the nation straight,'' have declared that politics and morality are divorced- There is no need there should be. Those who wish to see the party system maintained, must be prepared to regard the moral law as something higher than the party obligation. They must value truth and justice above the encomiums of the party boss. The party system has done good. It has provided organisation in the past for great ends. We admit this ha§ not been the case for some time in New Zealand. The fetish of party has been worshipped here to allow some ambitious and self-seeking politicians to keep positions of power, and it has been worshipped in the hope that some crumbs from the Government tables will fall into the lap of the worshippers. As we have said, however, this is but the prostitution of party. And we would ask those who realise the evils that are at present connected with the system, to use their efforts and apply their energies to get rid of these evils. They might be got rid of without the passing of any Bill or the resolution of any public meeting. Let the members on all sides of the House resolve that they will vote on all measures, and deal with all questions of administration without party bias, and the evil is at an end. To begin with, let "whips" be abolished, and "whips'" rooms be unknown. They are not necessary in our County Councils. This would be an outward and visible sign that partyism was not to dominate the actions of the members. Then let our members cease to speak about party, and cease to use the stupid party cries we hear so much of at election times. And when any question comes before the House, let each member consider it as he would do if he were acting in a judicial capacity. Were our advice followed, we would hear little of the evns of partyism.