DEGRADATION OF PARLIAMENT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 20 July 1925, Page 2

DEGRADATION OF PARLIAMENT

Tin* ))( i |>li; ni' I in's i)i minion pride lin-msehes i-i the I'acl that [his i s n demon it'u' Stale. In ;.'■ 'ill linn iv I-;) i S .■■ :.!.;:; n.Mi.v U-. I ■ansi i!, : ", : ',u, (!:•■(.-i.i, o !>..-. woHs of Ahriirue, L.o ujki's I'.m: ■ is 1..- .."!>. "e; )•;..«■] .; ).-;:. ,;| ■ ■ • -,- . • l-> ' ". • «}■••.!! ■ ;.;iJ by f.i , poopls." I is < beju'ttht! i'Jml pi .->■.:.{. ian deniorracy. such as ii is. i ,-si s iii tin' basis i'i| ntli I epresenlal ive in Si it ill H US. 11l L'elU■i::l we ! hink il is true liin; the 11 --m <I: - g. I what thev as.!; tin' in the way ill represent a! ion. |f tlirtMijli apiil Ii v i.' indifference th.-y • (•:i.-t-;il in mcdi. i i ily. \ nlgarilv, boni liiisl inn! petty etinnini: llien sin h l.i' ciilin ■ tlic standard [,.| v. i.i, Ii 11,,-ir ivpi i senial inn is made. '!'■, keep our democracy clean an,l systems. The question of habits, customs, and niaimei's is involved, l-'ov this reason it is well In review from time to time tin' standard i'!' practice displayed liv mil' representative ptililie bodies. Vvkils! these are a reflex oi' the people they also istahlisli standards whirl, the people aiv i>it ne t n copy. I>t public bodies I'arlianient eianes lirsl. its pj.. ci dure is i ft en pri sensed as the in..,lei in copy. Parliealarh is ii thus presi nl I'd to i 'i liege st itdents end young nn n and women who arc seeking examples oi what should be toll, wed In debate, rea s ning and the coniluct oi public affairs. A test .I' i'arliajnoiit. I hen. may be put in the query- is it fii to stand as an example fur the youths who are ;.'i'ii» int; up into tin l"il izenship of To morrow '.' 1 n some ei tin! ries in Kurope the Parliaments so signally failed in this-, and other practical tests, as to place them in the dock aild' on their trial by the very people who created them. Mussolini has been condemned tor .-ver ruling Parliamentary gnvern:i:i ni in Ila ly. ii is piea is that Parlia - ne.nl did nni govern but by its weal-; mss til!, wed ividespivnd niisgovrrnnipnl within the State. Those who waul to niainiaiu democracy have, a duty on them to see that deinocracy is in all re order it supersedes.

What shall we say of our Parliament ? Ii has recently boon giving an inhibition. The occasion is cu 1 loti flic .\ii.iros.o ill Kopiy ilobaio. .Much that transpired might ho truly presented as a most perfect example of how not to debate : indeed, it is only a courtesy 11 1 til eotdd define slicit stupid wrangling as debate at all. If the indulgence in abuse, personalities and terms of offence were followed in public meetings of ordinary citizens as il lias taken place in Parliament the result would probably lead to breaches of the peace. To call the other side "turn-Coat es" (supposed wit), crawling worms, sneaks, or liken another speaker to mud is something of the style which has actually boon used bv some members of Parliament ibis session. Surely such antics are really a degradation of the high institution <•■!' Parliament. .Men elected to serve the people, and paid to do so. arc expected to have some dignity or at least be above the standard if a hoodlum whose pin in speech is sinyily disgusting to people of any taste because of its abusive. vulgar and inane character. That Parliamentary maimers are becoming of a lower order may appear i T no importance to some people hut. indeed. tile wrong lining done in this way is many sided. It is gross waste el time and money, degrading public taste and vitiating the intelligence of the people by preventing rational discussions of public questions. It is a wonder that those in the strangers' gallery do not interject '‘talk politics as a protest against the constant indulgence in personalities which we hear in our Parliament. The slum style of speech of "you're an ass" and "you're another." marks the standard which some .M.P.'s have been setting recently. It is not public questions that are being discussed but persons, until citizens get sick of hearing or reading it. For (he sake of our democracy (which should he kept clean in manners as well as morals) we protest, as many other citizens do. against the senseless waste of time and lowering e.f Parliamentary tone that is in evidence lar ter* frequently in these days. (Contributed by Welfare Teague.)