POLITICAL REFORMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12240, 8 April 1903, Page 7

POLITICAL REFORMS.

. TO THE Enxroa. Sir,—Tho Rev.. W. E. Lush in Monday's issue called attention to several matters that merit public attention. Tho first? was that under the Royal seal a special audit of our financial position should be made, such audit to be entirely under Imperial authority. That is a drastic proposal which at present will not, I think, command itself generally. Let us, at all events, first exhaust our own resources. Undoubtedly we should insist upon our Audit Department being free»from the Premier's interference. It should be restored to tho independence enjoyed prior to the late Parliament. It was disappointing to find how little weight the electors attached to these important subjects during tho lato Parliamentary campaign. To go to the Imperial Parliament, as suggested, moans practically tho surrender c" our political independence. The fact of such a suggestion being made shows that Air. Lush realises the gravity of the situation. If the feeling grows, the people will insist, as they undoubtedly should, that without consideration of party politics the exact position of our colonial finance should bo made known during the ensuing session of Parliament. It suits the Premier to say " all's serene!" If he, as Colonial Treasurer, will give the House the fullest information on financial matters it will tend to restore public confidence, which is at present somewhat disturbed, big surpluses notwithstanding. Another important matter referred to in Mr. Lush's letter was " that the ballot should bo made so absolute that no possibility of finding out how each one voted should be left after the voto is recorded." During tho last election some of the ballot-papors were so thin that on holding them up to the light their contents were visible. Certainly, that should not bo. It is gratifying to find Mr. Lush approving of "voters' rights." Some 10 years cincc, by lectures and through the public press, I endeavoured io awaken some interest on this and kindred political reforms. All reform work is slow, but evidently a larger number of electors are feeling tho necessity of improvement on these important questions. Electoral reform is the foundation of effective political reform. Until the people realise tho necessity for efficient Parliamentary machinery the practical dictatorship that exists will be difficult to combat.—l am, etc., R. Fiiench. Lemuel'a., April 1.