DUNEDIN PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13695, 11 September 1906, Page 5

DUNEDIN PARLIAMENTARY UNION.

The .Parliamentary ,Un'ion met as usual last evening, tmdor the 'presidency of Mr M. Cohen.

Mr W. II Warren (Minister of Lands) gave'notice that lib would movo the'following resolution :-'•'That, recognising that evory person lias a'natural right to ji permanent Koine in tho land of "his or hop birth or adoption, we deem it urgently necessary that a portion of the earth's surface should bo open to selection by all who desire-to do so. And wo nsk'the House to endorse tho principle, so that' provision may be .made for tho same by incorporating in tho Land Act of' tho colony (ho necessary clauses to establish this principle. I '-. _ Mr F. \V. Clayton gavo notice of his intention to movo-"That., in the opinion of this House, it is inadvisablo to 'ratify tho Reciprocity Treaty recently arranged between Australia and Now Zealand." Tho Spoakor thon called on Iho order Ci tho day, tho first being the Referendum with tho..lnitiative Bill, of which the' second reading was moved by Mr \V. S. Bedford (tho Prcinior). Tlio nw' ' portant proposal in'l ho bill was to submit to all the electors ot the coiun, ~., pr legislative proposal on a petition 'hv 10 'per cent, of tho electors of the' .colony, lie assorted-tlntt-less than a century ago the traditional policies of Kur'opean nations anil tho. jealousies of rulers wore the principal factors that controlled events; that tho voice of the masses was practically ignored. Today, with, perhaps/the exception of Russia, nalinns hml ceased to bo aMutely under the heels of princes and .aristocrats. Tho voice of tho people had asserted itself to such mi extent that rulers dared not ignore it. J Ins showed, the progressive inarch «t democracy, and ho maintained that the next natural step in advance must be through the referendum with tho initiative. Referring to Switzerland, be remarked that, through the referendum with the lntliativo tho Swiss laws to-dav relleclcd the intelligence, spirit, and public morals ot the majority of the pconle. In America democracy had become corrupt through the ack of direct legislation. "Boss" ruin .bad supplanted tho rule of tho people by tho people. America wtm suffering, not from' democracy, but from an elective, despotism.

Mr J. HaHon supported the motion. Mr R. Gilkisoii romarkod that, under majority rule, us long as an actual majority ot the pcoplo were in favour of taking something from somebody, it would become law. Ten per emit, of the people, by setting the referendum, through the initiative, in motion, might close up all tho hotels or effect other equally radical changes, the tjonefit of which was largely problematical.

Mr .V. W. Clayton' raised tho question whether the democracy was best qualified to judge on important questions or whether if should not be content to elect its representatives. • There was a great deal of confusion in • tho . makimr of legislation throughout the world. Up to the present there had not been sufliuient public. 1 interest in tho matter to warrant its being mado law. .

Mi- It. Ferguson thought there was no roasoil why the initiative should not bo in the hands of tho people. Tho referendum wits a great educator. They had found it so in reference to the licensing question, and it would be found so oven more_ and more in u thousiuid important questions, There was no question upon which the elc6l<irs were better informed than upon the licensing question. Where a poll had-been, taken in connection with the rating of unimproved values they foupd' the same thing. The only way to gel. the voice of tho people upon nny one particular subject. was to have a direct vote upon it. It was possible the. totalisator would bo abolished if put to tho referendum, whereas the. legislator was afraid to. face the question. The referendum had been called the sheet anchor of the wavering politician. It was necessary that in any referendum decided upon tho initiative should bo in the limuls of tho people.

Mr W. Davidson, whilst supporting lhc general principle of- tho bill, observed that there wore many question* that ought not lo be-dnoidod too hurriedly.

Mr W. H. AVarren thought tho referendum would slop the " fooling " by Governnionla with the people. It was a revolt of tint people nijainst ■ unconstitutional methods. Our representative system was rotton to the core: it was not u majority system. At tho last election there wore 17 electorates represented by majorities. Many of tho present representatives appeared to-avoid every irksome question of great- importance to the community.

Mr W. Michael doubted the revolution they were/promised as the result of the passing of the bill. The average man was not a political economist; he required a leader op loaders with a largo grasp of public affairs. The bill would bo useless unless tho people wore well led; if they wore well led it would bo unnecessary. At the same timo, as tho bill might possibly 'bo of sonic uso, ho Would vote for tho'second reading.

Mr W. R. Brttgb opposed the bill. When tho people were ripe for, and wanted the referendum, they would get it. At (he present time there was no public demand for it.

Mr ,T. G. L. Hewitt having spoken against tho bill.

I Mr A. D. Aillten said that in discussing ■Mjttostinns of thjs kind it 'must ba romom- | bofml that this was not- a land suffering I under heavy burdens.- - ■

Mr J. 0, Lovctl. moved, and Mr M'Kenzio seconded--" That tlio bill be rend this day six months." Mr J. Gilchrist spoke in favour of the referendum, after which Mr A. 11. 'Burton addressed Ilie House. Tie was of opinion that if Die referendum were made capable of breaking up the abominable party system its trial would be justified. The ilobnfc was adjourned until Monday nest.