PARTY POLITICS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24449, 7 November 1940, Page 10

PARTY POLITICS

ABOLITION ADVOCATED PROFESSOR ALGIERS PROPOSALS CO-OPERATION IN PROPER SPIRIT (Special ro Daily Times l, AUCKLAND. New. 6. The abolition of parly.v politics, in New Zealand, the institution of a National Council without executive powers to consider c.ate proposals, and a reduction in the sice of .Parliament. which would remain the final arbiter, were proposals advocated, by Professor R, M. Algie. director of. the New Zealand Freedom Association in a luncheon address to the, Auckland Junior Chamber pf Commerce. “After the war we will get nowhere if we set up in opposing camps- in our own domestic democracy and shoot at each other,” said Professor Algie. “ There is need of co-operation in the proper spirit. Capital and labour must be complementary functions. , Work will have to be regarded as a nobler thing, not a hideous, necessity; ~.V ‘The present system to the man in the,street is contemptible and disgusting and a mere shift of power from one group to another,” Professor Algie continued. “ People sometimes object to the abolition of party politics, sug-. gesting we would never get a continuity pf policy, but we can see how much- df 'that we have had in recent years. The Legislative Council ,is so much dead wood and a check to the progress of the democratic machines which should function quickly. arid efficiently.” ' ...A- 1 .- Parliament should be the<’ place where the busiest man in the community could serve, and thousands of pounds could be saved by abolishing, such procedure as the Address-in-Reply debate, said Professor Algie. Consideration was advisable of a national council of. say, nind men who could do the thinking, research,- reporting and recommending for Parliament. They could be nominated and elected in a certain way and given the’ standing qualification of that possessed by judges, but no executive powers. The council could institute proposals and consider others sent to it by Parliament which), reduced in numbers and properly elected on some system of proportionate representation, would be the final, arbiter, of policy. This would get rid of some of the dead wood. “Men can and will do the thinking if they are independent,” Professor Algie said.', There was a definite deficiency in , the. .supply' of leaders in New Zealand, arid he suggested that the young business men of thd Dominion should fit themselves for public life b.y seeking training in local politics.- He urged that two' young members of the community should be nominated for the next City Council election arid also for other local bodies. “ Then we shall see what will happen to the public administration in 10 years.” -' : -x: ■' ■-xV -