WATCHING THE ESTIMATES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 52, 29 August 1925, Page 6

WATCHING THE ESTIMATES

By his subsequent apology and explanation the Minister of Health did his best to atone for his indiscreet personal reference to. the Leader of the Opposition. The inoident, however, was regrettable, for such references, though lightly intended^ may be misinterpreted and may provoke retorts even more offensive." That was so last night, though the Leader of the Opposition himself took the wise and dignified course of silence. The incident occurred after Mr. Forbes had protested against, the Government's failure to inform the House of the proposed order of business. We entirely agree that the House should have information, and the Prime Minister recognises this right. We do» not want surprise tactics which are fair neither to membefs nor their constituents. But it can soaroely be argued that the giving of notice has mad© much difference in past discussion of the Estimates. So far as the general public is able to judge, members usually select, one or two classes of Estimates, discuss those at inordinate length, and then allow two or three other classes to pass with little consideration. Of course, sometimes these latter classes are of minor importance, but this is not always so. The method adopted suggests that members are guided mainly by the idea that they must do four or five hours' talking, and when this is done they can afford to sit back and rest. Public confidence in the vigilance of Parliament would be greater if members exercised better judgment.