LIVELY TOPIC

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 69, 18 September 1936, Page 10

LIVELY TOPIC

STATE POSITIONS THE POLITICAL ANGLE MR. COATES OBJECTS DISCUSSION IN HOUSE Taking exception to the policy of recasting the personnel of semiofficial bodies with a change in Government, the Rt Hon. J. G. Coatess (National, Kaipara) precipitated a lively discussion on .the topic of political appointments when the Mortgagors and Lessees Rehabilitation Bill and its amendments were under discussion in the House of Representatives today. Mr. Coates referred particularly to the clause dealing with the reconstitution of the Court of Review, and his charge that the Government wished to change the personnel of such bodies in order to favour its friends drew the fire of Government members. The abolition of the existing Adjustment Commissions, as provided for in the.Bill, also came within range of the discussion.

Mr. Coates asked whether it made for sound administration to change the personnel of the Court. He regarded it as an unsatisfactory . principle to change the personnel of semi-official bodies when a new Government came into office. It was a new change in political administration, and it was an indication that it was part of the present Government's policy to remove those men who had been administering the jlaw and start off with an entirely new personnel. . Which policy made for the best administration, and which gave most satisfaction to the community—to have known men who understand the law and its administration, -or' to remove them and put an entirely, new set of commissioners in office? It was undesirable to make a change, and, moreover, it was a new conception of party politics that when a Government came into power it should wipe out the personnel appointed by the previous Administration.

The Minister of Finance (the Hon. W. Nash): Did you remove'the railway commissioners? ONE STEP FURTHER. Mr. Coates: What has that to do with it? The Minister's question does, indicate that it-is part of the Government's policy. It is only one step further and Judges and Magistrates will go. Mr., W. J. Poison (National, Stratford): The Justices of the Peace will go, too. Mr. Coates: There are too many of them to shift. This is bringing political considerations into the administraton of law and justice, and the policy is wrong and unsound. It introduces an entirely new phase into political affairs, and I hope the Government will either throw out this clause or have it voted out The Minister: That is a lot of bunkum.

Mr. J. G. Barclay (Government, Marsden): You appointed your friends. Mr. Coates: Now it is coming out. The member for Marsden will not be satisfied. until his friends are put on these readjustment commissions. The Minister said it was a lot of bunkum. He wants to appoint his own political friends, too. Men who have administered the job to the satisfaction of the country are to go, because this is going to be some job for the friends of the Minister and members of the Government Can anyone: tell me what are the views of the present members? Mr. Barclay: Yes. The chairman of one organisation organised a political meeting for you. " '. Mr. Coates: I should say that that was a very good recommendation.

Dr. D. G McMillan (Government, Dunedin West): What party; does Mr. Waite belong to? Mr. Coates: He is a good sound man.

The Postmaster-General (the Hon. F. Jones): Why impute motives to the Government? > ■

Mr. Coates: Because you have said so. Mr. Barclay stated that the member for Kaipara said he did not know what were the politics of the present members of the commissions. When he belonged to the Government the present leader of the House accused him of making political appointments. Mr. Barclay said he would recommend the present chairman of the North Auckland Commission. for reappointment. He did not want the jobs for his political friends. Mr. Coates: That is what you said. Mr. Barclay: I never said anything of the sort. Under your regime there were political appointments; It is political humbug for you to get up and talk like that. The Hon. J. G. Cobbe (National, Oroua), who was Minister of Justice in the previous Government, said he resented very strongly the suggestion that any of the appointments he had made were political appointments. He said he selected the best men available regardless of political considerations.

"A HERESY HUNT." Mr. Poison caused laughter by saying that he" was not going to accuse the Minister of wanting to make political appointments, as he believed the Minister would reappoint the present members. He gave the Minister credit for good intentions, but he objected to the provision that the lay members of the Court of. Review should be deemed to have vacated their offices on,the passing of the Bill. That suggested that a heresy hunt was on. Mr. Barclay: A bit of weeding out has to be done.

Mr. R. A. Wright (Independent, Wellington Suburbs) said that ever since hj had been in Parliament he had seen political appointments made, and if the Government did make such appointments it would be no better and no worse than its political predecessors. He did not believe in the policy of spoils to the victors; The Hon. A. Hamilton (National, Wallace) said he would not object to the Labour Party putting some of its friends into offices if °»ces fell vacant, but it was something new to find that all existing offices were wiped out by legislation. The decks were being cleared in a way that had never been done before, he said. Why cut off all the heads?" he asked. If a few men are not suitable to the Government, let them be retired, but their terms of appointment should be allowed to run out." The Minister: But they have not got a term; they were appointed at the Governor-General's pleasure. The Leader Of the Opposition (the Rt. Hon. G W Forbes) said that one of the most difficult, jobs a Government had to do was to make apoointments He considered it was much to the advantage of the Government to make aopointments for a definite term. If there was an unlimited term and a man was put off, it was a sort of reflection on him that he was not capable of doing the job. .

The Minister said the whole test was competence. Good men would be reappointed, but the Government-must

be in control of the position. He could n see bow the Government could be criticised for taking the power to reappoint every member. There was jus» as much capacity and integrity in, the members of the Government to do the right thing as there was m th* member for Oroua. „ , • . "... A division was called f or. by- the Opposition on an\amendroent, by Mr. Coates that sub-clause 3 of clause 13. which provides that the'lay members of the Court of Review shall vacate their offices on the passing, of the Bill, should be deleted, but the amendment was defeated by 13 votes to 41. Mr. Poison moved a further amendment, the effect of which would be to retain the present members of the Adiustment Commissions. The committee divided on Mr. Polson's amendment, which was defeated by 14 votes to 36. ■■■-. .(Proceeding.). . •