THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24450, 8 November 1940, Page 6

THE SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

The assertion by Professor Algie that the man in the street regards the present system of parliamentary government as " contemptible and disgusting" is clearly exaggerative. The man in the street in a British community has known no system other than that which is in operation and he acquiesces in it as something that has all through his life been regarded as peculiarly suited to the British genius for government. He has not given much, if any, thought to the question whether it would not admit of improvement and whether it is not possible to devise a system under which the rule of party politics might be ended with a view to its supercession by the acceptance of the principle of a national executive. The fact that, in times of crisis and emergency, it has been proved to be practicable in British countries to sink party differences and to establish governments representative of interests that were previously conflicting may have led many people to the belief that, after all, the system of party government, demonstrably wasteful as it is, might advantageously be abandoned for good. It is to be feared, however, that the great majority of people are so deeply imbued with a sense of respect for the traditional that they are disposed to regard the party system as almost sacrosanct. It is certainly only through a process of long, continued education respecting the weaknesses and imperfections of this system that the public is likely to be brought to the conclusion that a change would be useful and desirable. But there are features of the parliamentary practice that might be dispensed with to the benefit of the taxpayers in the saving of time and money that would be effected. The suggestion, for instance, which Professor Algie makes, that the debate on the Address-in-Reply should be abolished, is one that is to be commended. The. debate is an institution that is respectable by reason of its age, but, as observed in New Zealand, it is a prolific cause of waste without corresponding advantage. It has been a common occurrence in the Dominion that the Address-in-Reply has been the subject of a discussion that has occupied a fortnight or even three weeks of parliamentary time. The majority of the members have, however, no original contribution to offer in the consideration of the affairs of the State and, if they had, there are other opportunities afforded to them of unburdening their minds.