PRICE OF HONOURS PAYMENT BY INSTALMENT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 74, 28 March 1914, Page 10

PRICE OF HONOURS PAYMENT BY INSTALMENT

HOW POLITICS CHANGE. "Of ten men who changed their politics in the 1906 election I know of only one who has not got some offiqe or honour or title for doing so." This astounding assertion was made by Mr. A. D. Thomas (the ex-Liberal M.P., and well-known Welsh colliery proprietor) in the course of an address delivered at a meeting of the Delphian Coterie in London. The system of paying for honours was objectionable, said Mr. Thomas. One man he \{ne\v of was offered a knighthood,' which the recipient said he would pay for on " the piano System," in three instalments. Unfortunately he died during the interval and the party only got one instalment. One instance also .of this kind — he would not say which party was the culprit — was that of a whole, family who changed their politics — father, mother, brother, sisters, and even the dogs and cats changed their ribbons. Two peerages went to that family. The man who showed independence, remarked Mr. Thomas, was pointed at and ostracised. Our system of government wa's a very rough and ready way of ascertaining the opinion of the electorate. A man had to-day to " go' the whole hog " with his party, whether he agreed in detail with that party's policy or not. The average man could not give an intelligent decision upon the many complex issues put before him at a General Election. Under the party system to-day a few men in the Cabinet controlled the caucus, and organised and manipulated the opinion of the country. They had no guarantee that a Government, when it was returned, would carry- out the pro mises »nd pledges given' at the General Election. "Look," said Mr. Thomas, "at how they were now quarrelling as to whether Home Rule is submitted to the country or not." For- his own part, although it was not the view of his party, he would like to see a referendum upon every important issue, and then everyone would be given the opportunity of expressing a definite " Aye 'or "No " upon any important matter before it was legislated upon. No wonder they all felt apathetic about the value of /their vote.^ The individual voter felt that the Cabinet was omnipotent under the party system, and the rank and file counted for very little except at the General Election. The party system was exercised with such vigour to-day, said Mr. Thomas, that a man in the House of Commons, if he desired to take any part in the government of his country, must show no sort of independence, and no kind of individuality whatever.