SHARP CRITICISM

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 103, 28 October 1932, Page 7

SHARP CRITICISM

i POLITICAL MACHINE

f " fire: brigade members."

jftEß. ENDEAN'S COMMENTS

Stating that he was not making a perisonal attack, but was bringing a fr«sh mind in politics to bear on. the subject, -Mr. W: P. Endean (Government, Parnell) subjected the Parliamentary machine, to a sound drubbing when Epeaking in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Mr. Endean touched on a >vide variety of subjects bearing on political activities, and most of his criticism was sharp and straightforward. "Where is democracy drifting?" he asked. When he first came to the House he had said that the procedure ,\vas somewhat peculiar, and in the remarks he intended to make now he did want members to think that he jjvas making a personal attack. He had ito be- careful, or he might be placed in a dungeon. A Labour member: The plot thickens. Mr. Endean said that there were iten Cabinet Ministers who really ran ithe country, and so long asthey knew their jobs a fairly good administration "should ensue. "We members of Parliament are, nothing more than fire brigade men who suppress any political conflagration that may arise in the jHouse," he said. "THE SAME TUNE." deferring to the Opposition, he said jthose gentlemen had put on about 24 Dr 25 records in the long drawn-out Hebates, and most of the records had teen the same tune. x This remark drew several interjections froni the Labour benches. "I suppose it's their good manners, or sense of humour, that makes them Ido that," he said. Dealing with the committee work of ithe'House, he said that the. facts on jsvhich members based- their judgment ■were generally obtained in the corninittees. Several members served ph several committees and it "*vas impossible for members to be at every committee meeting. Further, there was no record of typewritten evidence, and he suggested that it would be a simple matter for frnembers to be supplied with copies of (the evidence. In a law court, nobody jp"ould give a judgment unless the facts jtvere kno,wn. As far as committee was concerned, one member might ]go to another who had made fragmentpry notes, but the impressions of whatf Jiad taken place might differ, and mem-Jiei-s did. net know the facts on. which [they were bdund down to -make a-de-cision when, at the crack of the whips, they were driven like so many sheep into the "ayes" or the "noes" lobbies. - . . LONG DEBATES. ...Ofr. Endean, next directed criticism to the Address-in-Beply debate, and pointed out, that jin England the debate jbrik two or three days, a few selected jmen from each side speaking. In New pSealand, there had been two sessions pf Parliament in one year, and the [Address-in-Reply had probably accountled for three weeks. "No wonder there 5s a body of opinion outside the House ithat takes a humorous view of the proceedings," he said. "The proceedings Jare; higgledy-piggledy." Mrst, there jtvas the Address-in-Beply debate, then £h'e'debate on the Ottawa Conference, fend then the debate on the.l.C. and A. [Amendment. Nothing was ever finished. Jtrcminded him very much of a farmer pho decided to plough a paddock, and [then went down, to attend to a drain; Ithen somebody Tan down to him and jtold him'about a cow, and he left; the jdrain; and finally he went back to the jpaddoek and got the ploughing finished. , THE POLITICAL GAME. "I regard the political game as a jc-ery poor game,," he said. He paid a tribute, however, to Mr. Speaker in Maintaining the conduct of the House. »'But what about this miserable game J>f politics where we- have a whispering campaign and a man is villified? We jknow what is happening in New ZeaJand i^i regard to a certain man in this House, and T say that it's a disgrace to politics; and the sooner this practice is abolished, the better. (Hear, hear.) The next item to come under Mr. Ersdean's fire was Hansard. ,He said ke^had not taken a record of the number of hours spent in the debate, but he did not think Hansard should be fased for electioneering purposes. • He Suggested that members should bo given fco many folios free, and anything more ehould be charged for at the Tate of 3.s a folio. "That would cut out the Stalking," he said. "Then democracy be seized with the fact that ■thinkers and not talkers should be sent 10 Parliament." Mr. W. J. Jordan (Labour, Manupau): You're a thinker. vMr. Endean: I have spoken twice. Mr. E. Semple (Labour, Wellington (East): It would be hard to put up with Another lot. • Mr. Endean said it had been stated [that Parliament was the final court of jappeal of the land, but he had heard. ithat the Privy Council was the highest jcourt of appeal. Had the House the Barne sense of justice and dignity that characterised the Privy Council? Sometimes, the debates reminded one of the {forecastle of a tramp line of steamers. Are all the people in New Zealand £t to have a vote? asked Mr. Endean, itvhen referring to the franchise. If 'democracy was to keep above the fetormy seas of destruction our house had to be put in order. PRIVILEGE CASES. Mr. Endean then directed attention So breach of privilege cases, and said jt-hat in the House—in the final court jof appeal of the land—the position jwas set whereby a man was regarded | ps being guilty without a trial.. Ho suggested that the example of South | [Africa might be followed, where there ?vas a statute under which the cases i*rere dealt with. "I think this House jfrould be well advised to see that the procedure with regard to breaches of [privilege is altered, and that before a is condemned ho shall be given an (Opportunity of coming before the Ear of the House and given a chance of paying he is not guilty." A member: He can go to the committee. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Mr. Endean said that the Legislative fCouncil should not be swept away, as 5t was the safeguard against ' hasty [legislation. He knew of a case where •the Legislative Council had prevented an injustice. It might be regarded ias a place of refuge or reward for jgentlemen who had served in the House, jbut. he suggested that men of about jniddle age and of experience should be (placed there. "I have not made up irny mind whether they should be 'elective in any way. I do not say that the elective system should be adopted jvith regard to the Upper House." In conclusion, Mr. Endean said he ftoped that members would not regard him as having made a personal attack, but would take his remarks as coming •from a fresh mind in politics trying to make matters-easier and better for Ithe administration of the affairs of the (country. The International cable news appearing In Ihis issue is published by arrangement with the Australian Press Association and the bspn,"- '■'B.mXi," Sews Office, limited, _ ,