The Gisborne Times WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1935. A DISAPPOINTED POLITTCIAN

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12525, 10 April 1935, Page 4

The Gisborne Times WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 1935. A DISAPPOINTED POLITTCIAN

The question of the desirableness ot the party system of government has again been raised as a result of some outspoken remarks by Mr McSkimming, the Coalition member for Clutlia\ who does not intend; to reoffer his services at the pending Gen era! Election. Air AkSkimming, speaking at Balclutha last week, said that hist experience of (Parliament was that one couldl not get one’s own way as a member of a party and that as an Independent one got n 0" where. Nobody with any knowledge of tho party system could 1 , of course, honestly disagree with, him on either of those points. AVhat Air McS'kiniming overlooked, however, was this: if every member of a, party insisted on getting his own way the upshot would he that nobody would sujceecd and l the party would, not get anywhere. As far as Independents are concerned, it is quite true that they do not come into tho reckoning at all. AYhy, at any rate,' should the views of a few non-party members be studied 1 by the party in power as against the views of its, own members? If has as is well-known, sometimes happened that the fate Of a; government has depended on tho vote of one’ or two members displaying a measure of independence. That' wins, for example,- the case in this Dominion just before the first Ward Government Went out of office. To his- credit, however.- the late Sir Joseph ’Ward preferred' that his gerornmeiit should ' be defeated rathei than that if should bo subjected' M dictation. Then. ' ngnifu at one time Air Lysnar and Colonel Bell might have turned the balance against the Massey Government. In the drid. the late Air Alass'ey -wonkT not yield to their demands and l Messrs Lysnar and Bell wero forced to recognise that, it would l not avail them if they did'

assist the Opposition on a _ no-con-fiderico division. Mr. McSkimmihg •has, however, touched dh a weak spot in connection with party government. Generally speaking, it. i s the., duty df „a, Government to kriep its supporters welt-i'nformed asj ; to its intentions and to consult them freely. According to the Government member for Olutha it has. been a disappointment to him that caucuses Of Government, supporters have hot been held as 'frequently as lie would 1 have desired l . Upon reflection. however,, be should agree that, if such has been the case, some of the blame must be shouldered by the rank and file on the government side. A majority of supporters of any govern, rilfent might, if they so wished, demand more frequent caucuses and might even insist upbji the l’e-con-stiuction of the Ministry. Oh more than one occasion in this Dominion a Minister has boon forced to .retire or to throw up a particular portfolio on account of disapproval within the government party 'n respect of his administration. Mr. McSkimming rightly said that all the brains were not to ho found on the one side of the House. In connection with the par tv system it is of course well known that it has hcen found best in Britain and in all the British Dominions and it should not he blamed if it; dfsplavs weaknesses arising from mismanagement.