THE THREE-PARTY SYSTEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13722, 11 April 1908, Page 6

THE THREE-PARTY SYSTEM.

The Australian Federal Government has had another experience of the impossibility of maintaining any independent stand in a House where its avowed supporters are in a minority and where it depends for its majority upon the countenance of a third party. As matters stand Mr. Deakin has all the pains and responsibilities of office, while Mr. Reid has all the*toils and anxieties of a constitutional Opposition Leader ; j between them is the Labour Party, | whose members are quite satisfied to j* remain perpetually as they are, which is without care or anxiety or responsibility, and with the knowledge - that neither Mr. Deakin nor Mr. j fleid can hold office without their j support. The effect of this is oh- : viuus. It is quite useless for | any Federal Administration to introduce any proposal or tiny legislation without consulting the

Labour caucus, which can, at its pleasure, reject any proposal and paralyse any legislation. To th« general public it must seed preferable that Mr. Deakin should consult Mr. Eeid, and that both the old parties should combine to reform this new and dangerous method of Parliamentary control. But ancient prejudice:? and long-estab-lished habits are evidently difficult to eradicate, and the strength of the Australian Labour Party really depends upon the readiness of both Mr. Deakin and Mr. Reid to make terms with its leaders rather than with one another. The "same destructive and demoralising methods will make their appearance in New Zealand if a Third Party is allowed to enter Parliament and establish itself in our legislative methods. Our citizens ougb: therefore to take advantage of the experience of Australia, by watching carefully the tortuous course of Federal politics and the disastrous results of th"« Three-Party system, so that public opinion may be awakened in time to prevent its taking root in this Dominion.