Evening Post. SATURDAY, JUNE 15, 1901. THE "NEW LIBERALS."

Evening Post, Volume LXI, Issue 140, 15 June 1901, Page 4

Evening Post. SATURDAY , JUNE 15, 1901. THE "NEW LIBERALS."

- + Mr. Ell, the junior member for Christchurch, occupied a somewhat anomalous position in the House of Representatives last session. He is so sensitive to the evils that have resulted from latter-day abuses of the party system that he is consumed with a burning dfesire to abolish party government. He believes that this end can be attained by the adoption of the '^Elective Executive, the Referendum, and the Initiative. There are other members of the House who also advocate these constitutional changes, but in the meantime they range themselves' with either the supporters' or the opponents of the Administration. Mr. Ell, however, refuses to make this concession to circumstances, and prefers to play a "lone hand." He is quite sincere in his independence, and evidently tries to bring every public question tlzafc comes before the House to the test of certain welldefined principles, regardless of all consideration for party policy^ Although Mr. Ell is well-informed and unremitting in his efforts to master the subjects in which he is interested, he is not an attractive or convincing speaker, and this, added to the aloofness already described, seriously detracts from his effectiveness. His principles are sometimes barely distinguishable from fads, and he lacks that broad outlook upon men and things that is indispensable for the successful politician. He is too ready to trust to the efficacy of such mechanical reforms as Prohibition and the Referendum, too convinced of the correctness of his doctrinaire theories to accept the compromises which are essential to the success of Parliamentary institutions. Thfese criticisms have been suggested by the speech which Mr. Ell made to his Christchurch constituents on^ Wednesday last, and as he represents a considerable section of the "New Liberals" who are being produced by the growing reaction against Seddonian methods, his views acquire a weight which they would not otherwise necessarily possess. , With his strictures upon, those, methods we heartily concur, but we doubt whether the drastic constitutional changes which he and his friends ■ advocate should be seriously contemplated until the resources of our existing institutions have been exhausted. That party government has, like all other forms of government, certain disadvantages,. is undeniably true. As a matter of fact, no government can be altogether ideal in. character, for the very existence of a government implies in- , herent faults in human nature. Party government has, however, grown up as i the inevitable consequence of representa- \ tive institutions, and it cannot be done) away with now without subverting those j institutions and replacing them by a more or less- developed system of direct rule by «he electors. Whatever the system, its success or failure must ultimately depend upon. the. healthiness of public opinion. Until a wholesome public opinion is built up mechanical reforms can, it seems to us, effect little lasting good. At present, we fear, the public opinion of the colony does not condemn as it should the abuses the present Administration has introduced into public life. Nor will it do so until a strong party determined to remove those abuses has been organised throughout the country. Mr. Ell seemed to admit that such a party was now in process of formation, and in this he was well advised. The old official Opposition is dead as a political organisation, and the overthrow of Seddonian methods must be sought from a reconstructed progressive party. The 'desired end can be effected without interfering with the general principles of the Constitution. The remedy is to be found in .undoing the reactionary work of the> present" Government which has steadily jxnd, as it would seem, intentionally increased the powers of the Crown until th-j Premier now wields an, authority such as our ancestors wisely refused to our monarchs. Cbnstitutional checks upon the Ministry should be jealously guarded. Acts such as the Revenues Act Amendment Act of last session should b3 made impossible, and the Crown itself should, like any other employer, be brought under the provisions of our labour legislation. With these and many other of Mr. Ell's suggestions we " cordially agfee, and we feel confident that if a new progressive national party would work honestly within the limits of the present constitution theyjcould make Parliament and Ministry tne real servants and representatives of the people without entering upon the dangerous experiment of constitution-mongering. But at the same itime we will confess that if present evils gO on increasing as they have increased in the past the country may in desperation be forced to consider the' drastic changes advocated by the junior member for Christchurch and his friends. The unexpected' resignation of Mr. Charles Lewis, M.H.R., has created on extraordinary vacancy in the representation, of Christchurch, and speculation is already rife as to the probable candidates for the seat. The Progressive Liberal Party is strong in the City of the Plains, and it is unlikely that it will let this opportunity pass without bringing forward a candidate. It was in the last Parliament ably represented by two members, Messrs. T. E. Taylor arid G. J. Smith, whose defeat at the last general, election was deeply regretted by the friends of sound democratic government. It is to be hoped that one of these two gentlemen will again come forward, and not only come foi'ward but win the day. Both of them will no doubt have to consider carefully whether their private affairs will admit of their again entering politics at such short notice, . but either of them would prove a Valuable aid to the cause of pure administration and progress. Mr. Taylor's incisive and effective criticism was sorely missed last session, and there was no lack of material fof hini to deal with. Mr. Smith's more solid if less brilliant powers would have helped considerably the work done by Messrs. Hutcheson, Atkinson, Pirnni, and others. It would be a calamity if Christchurch returned yet another Ministerialist to swell the Premier's unwieldy majority, and in the circumstances the election of a member too closely associated with the old Conservative Opposition would be only a. shade less unfortunate. In Mr. Taylor or Mr, Smith would be found a loyal friend of the New Liberal Party, which would combine progressive legislation

with scrupulous regard for constitutional safeguards against one-man government and undue Ministerial influence.