MINISTERS AND MEMBERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17067, 27 July 1917, Page 6

MINISTERS AND MEMBERS

DEMAm> FOR CONFIDENCE. , (Fboh Oub Own Cobeesponde^t.) WELLINGTON, July 26. A demand that the Government should repose more confidence in members of the House was made by Mr Young, when he was speaicins; on the Address-in-Reply this evening. There was, he said, no outward sign of complete confidence between Ministers. At least he knew that Ministers had not once shown confidence in members of the House. Members of Parliament should bo taken into the confidence of Ministers, and if Ministers could not publicly say what the whole situation was there should be confidential heart to heart talks, between Ministers and members so that members would know what the position was. At present members knew no more than the man in the street who read the newspapers. Members would respect any confidence reposed in them by Ministers The Minister of Defence had laid down-the doctrine "Leave my officers alone." That was a dangerous doctrine, because if those officers did wrong they should be criticised. The way to lose power was to abuse it, and if Ministers abused it they could not expect to have the confidence of members.