OVER GOVERNMENT.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLX, Issue 8167, 19 August 1887, Page 6

OVER GOVERNMENT.

TO THE EDITOR' OF THK NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sir, —Ymr hading article in to-day’s paper has put into form thoughts which have been floating in. many minds for some time. ’ I have been in this country for some seven years, and one of my first, experiences was that we were very much governed. Whereas in the Old Country one was scarcely conscious of a govern-

ment at all, so far as the individual was concerned, here it. is felt on every side, interferences abound and more are to be expected. We are likely in time to have as little liberty aa under a despotism, and with very much less stability. Yop have hit the hail on the head. What we want is very much much less government and of better quality. That is, no Government which depends for its existence on the breath of popular opinion, which, of itself is unstable aa water, The net result of the system is an army of parasites, feeding on the very vitals of the body politic—a host of needy adventurers seeking their own and not their country’s good. The remedy is to cut down the salaries all round ; make it no longer worth anybody’s while to follow politics as a profession. Then we may expect to get the best men in the country to do their country’s work for the honor of it. Let the M.H.R.’s receive LSO each session to cover actual expenses of traveland lodging ; let the M.L.C.’s count it the highest honor their country can give them to style them “ Honorable ” and give them the power of revising legislation ; and let both Houses be content with legislation. Let the Governor govern, assisted by a counsel of chosen men—chosen by himself, and responsible only to himself, and removable by nobody whatever, on no pretence whatever, till their time be up, be that period three, four, or five years. Then we might expect a real and stable Government by the beat men the nation can bring forth, and the country will have time to devote itself to its own develop ment. As for all this perpetual electioneering—payment of members, highsalaried officials, popular clamor, —it is so much rot, and will end in rottenness. Parliamentary government has had its day, and is found wanting—simply because Parliament has overstepped its own proper sphere, which is legislative and not executive, providing the needful and not spending. Divide one from the other—providing of course means of communication—pay decent salaries to the men appointed to rule and judge ; cut off all others, especially of elected men ; be liberal with civil servants, and see that they really have work to do, that they may not stand at the windows waiting till the clock strikes the hour for their release. Then I think we may fairly expect this glorious country soon to find her feet, and be on her way to advance and prosper. Delivered from faddy men and doctrinaires, every interest will have room and opportunity to develop. The Government cf the country would be always reasonably amenable to the well developed current of public opinion, but would not be ruled by it; would rather guide it into wise and useful channels. It is the country of my adoption, and because I love it with a passionate love, I ask you to admit this expression of my thoughts in your columns, an expression also of the thoughts of many hearts, —I am, Ac., N.Z. Hawera, August 15.