NOTES FROM PARLIAMENT

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 135, 14 July 1914, Page 10

NOTES FROM PARLIAMENT

THE DEPUTATION PEST.

TO-DAY'S WORK. NEW CABINET MAKING METHODS. [From oar own Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 14. The deputation nuisance is becoming more marked every day. This morning eight different deputations fwaited on various Ministers with all kinds of requests, mostly of purely parochial interest. Ministers and. others concerned in the business of the country lose a tremendous amount of time over deputations, and complaints against the system are becoming loud and numerous. The most interesting one „ to-day was that to Mr Fisher comprising ■;the Bible-in-Schools supporters in his own electorate. The Minister told them unhesitatingly that he would oppose the Bill, though he was in favour of a general referendum scheme.

The way is how clear for the House to get down to business. The biggest measures will probably not come on this week, but there are numerous smaller measures to be disposed of.

This afternoon the House is engaged in a debate on the second reading of Mr Kerdman's Civil Service Officers' Guarantee Repeal Bill. Mr Hanan has introduced a measure over which there has been a great deal of speculation. It bears the title of i ' The Election of Ministers and Party Government Reform Pill." The object is to destroy the Cabinet system and replace it with individual Ministerial responsibility, instead of collective responsibility, as obtains as present. The Bill proposes to place the appointment of members of the Ministry in the hands of members of Parliament and to this end provides for a secret election, at which all members will take part, after every general election, to select eight Ministers. It is true that a majority of members on one side may elect all eight Ministers, but it removes the possibility of getting into the Cabinet one or more Ministers who would be TinpOpular with the majority of the members of the House.