The Reform Of Parliament

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 128, 23 February 1939, Page 11

The Reform Of Parliament

Sir, —Your comprehensive editorial, “The Reform of Parliament,” in last Monday’s issue, will certainly give many people food for interesting thought. Since class has been set against class, we are beginning to wonder how much longer we are to suffer Parliament and elections in their present forms. In a family of six where one member is running a business, two working in professions, ope in a factory, ami two as labourers, would it be credible that the parents would ignore the rights of the three former members, plot and plan for the three latter, ami penalise the former to give advantages to the latter? The worst parents in the land would not take sides in this way in any home, high or low. How much more unjust is it when this kind of treatment is meted out on a colossal scale by Parliamentarians (with their myriads of official helpers), whom we pay to administer justice to all! Looking back over the history of England, it would seem that many classes in New Zealand today are not much happier than were the overtaxed. oppressed classes under the Stuart kings. We sit still and grumble, or ventilate our wrongs in print. Only some strong and organised plan will help us no\£, when our most cherished rights are gradually being wrenched from us.

In a small country like Roumania, they are to institute a new form of Government embracing three social classes —agriculturists, professionals, and workers—and from each class eight representatives compose the principal council exercising executive powers. We, in New Zealand, have to leave all our representation rights to chance, till nowadays elections have become “jokes,” thousands of people thinking them so futile that .they do not bother to vote. They know what a gamble—like an art union —is this “power of the people on Election Day.” All honour to that host of importers which lately made its way to Wellington. This at least was a beginning, but such an action must be backed by organization from, one end of New Zealand to the other. It is no use waiting till three months before an election. Start now! If unity is strength for Trades Unionists, it will also be strength for others. If ever there was a time for a few good leaders—not Parliamentarians —it is now I When Labourites clamoured for their rights years ago, they were not slow to get agitators over from Australia as leaders It may be a comfort to Labour politicians to feel they have . been placed in power by a great majority, but a greater joy for themselves and everybody would be to know how tq govern the country well, instead of turning New Zealand upside down. Unless some of the principles connected with Parliaments and elections are drastically altered and reconstructed, there will be no real security for anybody. It certainly seems as if Fate is taking a hand, to show us that some of our institutions have outlived their usefulness, and can no longer safeguard our rights and liberties.—l am. etc. EROS. Hastings. February 21.