GOVERNMENT POWERS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29637, 6 October 1961, Page 15

GOVERNMENT POWERS

Parliaments’ “Failure” The British and New Zealand Parliaments in the twentieth century had failed in their duty to control the growth of the absolute power of government, said Mr N. Wilson, Q.C., of Auckland, in an address at a public meeting in Christchurch arranged by the Constitutional Society last evening. Mr Wilson said that Parliament had not only relinquished much of its powers to ministers but had also eroded the ancient powers of the courts.

The passing of statutes which gave ministers power to bring in regulations which had the force of laws was criticised by Mr Wilson. Now laws were not debated in Parliament, and often the first time they were known was when they appeared in the Gazette. “Surely we elect members of Parliament to make and debate laws, not to delegate this right,” he said.

The decision to set up the office of an ombudsman was worthy of admiration, but when a closer look was taken at the bill stating the functions of the ombudsman, the office could be compared to that of a frigate without any guns.

The ombudsman had the power to make recommendations to the Prime Minister or to Parliament, but there was no machinery to see that these recommendations were carried out Also the office was for a term of only three years. If the ombudsman became unpopular with the party in power he could be removed after his term of office ended. There was no doubt the proposed bill of rights would be a good thing, said Mr Wilson. But what was wanted was a bill that not even Parliament could tinker with. If Parliament could make a bill it could alsb amend it.