ELECTIVE MINISTRY

Evening Star, Issue 18736, 11 September 1924, Page 10

ELECTIVE MINISTRY

HOUSE DISCUSSES PARTY SYSTEM. CHANGED POLITICAL CONDITIONS. [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, September 10. "The Election of Ministers and the Party Government Reform Bill ” was the title'of a measure which the Hon. J. A. Han an sought to introduce in the House to-day. Though ho was brief in his references to the measure, which had not appeared in print at that stage, the subject was taken up readily by many other members, with the result that a long debate ensued, while the Premier' interposed an occasional reference to “ time wasting.” Next on the Order Paper was the introduction of the Premier’s Legislature Amendment Bill, which has already been considerably delayed by members’ talkativeness. In the afternoon Mr Hanan expressed the belief that there’was a general desire among the elector; for reform of the present system by the removal of some of the evils of party government. Everyone who had watched events in progressive communities realised the necessity of changing the form of government to meet the conditions of the times. When there were only two parties in New Zealand there might not have been so much ground for the measure, but with the development of the three-party system some change was needed to give stability to the situation. New Zealand did not wish to repeat the position of England, which had a Government in office, but not in power. If the group system developed in our Parliament there would be a Government without sufficient courage to initiate substantial measures of reform. Already there had appeared in the House a butter group, a wool group, and a wheat group. Mr Massey: And an anti-gambling group. (Laughter.) Mr Hanan agreed, adding that his Bill, by providing for the election of Ministers, would secure a Government representative of the majority of members. As the House was constituted to-day it was dominated by a one-man Government, supported by party hacks. If the system he suggested was adopted, Parliament would regain the respect it had lost in the eyes of the country. Mr Sidey congratulated the member for Invercargill on his measure. Even the Premier must admit that there was need for reform in the system, of government. Mr Massey i Plenty of room for improvement. Mr Sidey reminded the Premier that, prior to the election before last, he had talked of reforming the political system, but on that occasion he was not sure of getting a majority. When he got his majority he settled down comfortably on the same basis as before. Something was wrong when half the House took one side and the remainder took the other side on a question, regardless of its merits. GROUP SYSTEM COMING. Mr Forbes pointed out that New Zealand had already come to the three-party system, and was working towards the group system. Therefore, it was time Parliament adapted its machinery to the important change which was coming about. It could hardly be said that the Government was in office by tho votes of the people. The Premier was a benevolent autocrat, but it had been well said that, no matter how pure and lofty were the ideals of a man, he tended to become despotic if be remained too long in power. The Premier, who had been twelve years in office, had reached this position.

Mr Massey: The wish is father to the thought. Mr Forbes finally suggested that the illustration of the three-party system in England would convince everyone that such a system was not desirable. It allowed a minority to administer the laws. This was seen in New Zealand, where the Government put on the Statute Book laws which were quite radical, but as it had charge of their administration it took care that nothing radical was done. The Hon. D. Buddo declared that party government had been discredited in ail parts of the Empire, and he heartily joined hands with anyone who sought to make an improvement in the existing system.

“No (doubt party government is a curse,” declared Mr De la Perelle, -who urged that the best brains in Parliament should be secured for the Ministry by means of the elective system, which, he understood, was advocated in Mr Hanan’s Bill.

Mr Sullivan said that if men were put into .the Ministry from all sides of the House there would never be any agreement on matters of policy. Ho amusingly pictured the possibilities of a situation such as Mr Isitt appearing in a Cabinet containing a majority of Laborites. Mr Savage thought from the mover’s remarks that the Bill was an attempt to create an Elective Executive. Government did not begin in Parliament, but in industry. • If after next election the three (parties (were returned (nearly equal it would not be any law that would make two of them come together, but a natural desire to defend themselves. The Government of the future would simply be composed of Labor and its opponents. Mr Isitt said it was difficult to find remedies for the existing evils. He had seen members who, having supported the Elective Executive, changed their views and became enthusiastic for the party system when they became aspirants for office. Mr Atxnore pointed out that throughout the world representative Assemblies were finding it extremely difficult to function. As had been pointed out, most members when they came into the House were disgusted with party government. Some of the most hardened Conservatives when first in the House expressed disapproval of the party machine. Men like Sir Massey, when in Opposition, supported an Elective Executive, but to-day on a division he would walk out into the lobby and vote against that which commended itself to him before he was head of the party. Mr Massey: Of course I will. I know better now.

Mr Atmore said there was growing disgust with the party machine. Men stood up and spoke in one direction, but on the crack of the party whip they voted in the opposite direction If a referendum of the S’e were taken Mr Atmore thought the o would endorse the Bill by c> large jnajorit#.

A CABINET SUGGESTION. Mr Fraser maintained that economic dividing lines necessarily existed in_ society, and must make themselves manifest in any representative body like Parliament Labor would willingly support Mr Hanan’s Bill if it was a measure to bring about a sensible, sound, reasonable, and highly necessary coalition of Liberals and Reform, with fair and impartial distribution of the portfolios. He suggested that Mr Hanan. should carry out negotiations with Mr Massey (who, Mr Fraser was certain, would willingly lend an ear) and with Mr Wilford for the purpose of bringing about that happy consummation. Mr Holland, Leader of the Labor Party, said tho House was indebted to Mr Hanan for the opportunity of the discussion. Mr Massey: Waste of time. Mr Holland; You are a good judge of time wasting. You did a good deal of it on the Opposition benches. You should not make such an interjection when you are in danger 0 f becoming bogged in tho mud of history. Mr Holland, replying to criticism of tho Labor Party, said Mr Isitt seemed to suffer from political delirium tremens, and was never able to control himself, while Mr Atmore seemed to have let loose all the concentrated bitterness that belonged to a disappointed nature. Tho Hon. J. A. Hanan said his Bill was in an awkward’ and embarrassing position. Mr Thompson; It is dead. Mr Hanan said the Bill was followed on the Order Paper by tho Electoral Reform Bill, which Labor members were said to be delaying by using the various means afforded by the forms of tlm House, and therefore considerable discussion bad taken place. It was political humbug for members to say they did not know the contents of tho Bill. If electoral reform was not being made a party question, why was the Elective Executive regarded as a party matter ? The Bill was read a first time.