ABOLITION OF PARTIES

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1930, Page 10

ABOLITION OF PARTIES

EGMONT SCHEME WHOLE HOUSE TO CHOOSE LEADER 7 “PRESENT SYSTEM INTOLERABLE” The abolition of political parties was strongly urged by Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., in an address at Kaponga last night. He proposed to replace the present methods with a system under which the full House of 80 members would select a leader who, in turn, would choose the members of his Government. “The best Labour men, Reform men and United, men should bs called on to sink their party prejudices and to act jointly for the country’s good,” he declared. Owing to the Labour Party -declaring against Reform and casting its votes for the United Party the Coates Government was overthrown after being in power for 16 years, said Mr. Wilkinson. But the present Government was a minority Government, entirely dependent for daily support on one or other of the groups outside its own ranks. This position was almost intolerable. It was a negation of government. Mr. Wilkinson unhesitatingly condemned the party system which, he said, was largely responsible for the trouble. To-day Parliament could not function as it should because of that system. A few. weeks ago a small group of 25 men belonging to one of the parties sat in solemn conclave to set up a new Government, yet the other 95 members of the two Houses were never considered.

The party system was established when there were two parties in the House and when a majority was always considered to be an essential factor. Now, however, the number of parties had increased and the tendency continued to grow. Because of this a Government could carry on only by pleasing one or other of sections hostile to it. It was,' therefore, unable to govern properly in the interests of the country as a whole. The parties themselves were bound to make promises they could not fulfil in order to attain to office.

•Would it not be more sensible to elect 80 members of Parliament and let the whole House elect its leader? asked Mr. Wilkinson. Then the leader could select his colleagues. If the measures and conduct of the Government thus formed did not pease the House the usual votp of censure would - prevail and the B-puse could elect a new leader.

He suggested each new Parliament should elect its leader. If the last leader and his Government had been succesful no doubt they would be re-glected. “Under a system such as that it. inight ke possible to get the country somewhere,” commented Mr. Wilkinson. ; Many people, he said, were solid supporters of the party system. Some were bitter party men, but times called for co-operation by all and he was willing and anxious to co-operate. The .position of the country demanded that personal interests should not stand in the. way of improving the general sitpation. The best, available talent in the House should be employed regardless of party shibboleths. The best Labour men, Reform men and United nien should be called on to sink their party (prejudices and to act jointly for th® country’s good. If the men in the House would not agree to this it was for the electors to act whenever fin opportunity was given and put out of office men who stood' in the way of progress.