OUR UNREGENERATE HOUSE.

Observer, Volume XXXII, Issue 25, 2 March 1912, Page 3

OUR UNREGENERATE HOUSE.

Persiflage Not Politics.

LOGICALLY it should be true that every country has the

Government it deserves — which implies Parliament—but surely New Zealand is ifcoo young a country to have bred a race deserving of our present Parliament. Is mot the New Zealantder cool, calm, philosophic, and convinced of the necessity of (brains to produce ideas ? Surely he is, and yet, look at the folk he chooses to make laws lor him _ his antithesis ? In America the word "politician" is something of a (term of contempt. It has not yet become-so in the Dominion, but in how short a time may it not become so ? Even now the best men do not \usually care to stand for Parliament, and those that do are usually rejected in favour of mediocrity. Some cynic from the outside world, touring busybody or foreign resident, may say that it is (a case of like seeking like. A pessimistic citizen may say it is the reeult of popular apathy regarding politics. The cause, possibly, lies in both causes. The New Zealander, generally, is apathetic I towards actual politics, but he can be m^ r ~ ested enough in the politics which concern his own street, town or borough.

But because politics in the true sense lie beyond the region of his everyday thoughts, he is easily persuaded by the loud-voiced and frequently very ignorant person who promises everything for his electors and it is because this is so obvious that men of finer quality, with statesmanlike ideas and some dignity, will not suffer the almost teertain affront of rejection by a crowd indifferent to statesmanship and resentful of dignity. We have had no riotous scenes in our Parliament as yet, tout that is only because the New Zealander's habit of mind is not excitable, otherwise the personalities and insulting allegations, and replies hurled iabout the Chamber last session, and already this session, would have been excuse for many violent encounters. Last session one remembers the personalities and recriminations that arose out of the Black pamphlet—and other matters. •One remembers the personalities that supplied the place of argument in the recent elections, and ■ there are even now in our ears the echoes -of the slang-whang > indulged in throughout the No-Confidence dehate. There is no respect shown for the dignity attaching ito a member as the representative of the people, and as long as a i speaker "keeps within the bounds of language sanctioned by parliamentary usage, he (can be insulting as he pleases.

It cannot be said that this persistent persiflage emanates from any particular party or from 'any section —those who should by virtue of previous training be courteous in their manner are frequently the most offensive. It would be \ invidious to distinguish amongst so many offenders and it would be idle to (quote instances when every day a score of /glaring examples are reported in the daily papers. What, for instance, has been the outcome of the recent •debate ? A vast . amount of idle talk—chaff without grain—personal :abuse, explanations, recriminations, insult and counter-insult. And the ■upshot of it all to, break in which to •enquire into a scandalous insinuation, not against a member but a party, ;.but an insinuation the ten■dency of which is to discredit the member.

There has been no pretence of business, but there has been the discreditable spectacle of a warfare of words in which one party is desperately bent on retaining office and the other is equally bent on obtaining it. Altogether, it is a degradation of the dignity of Parliament which should make, every elector ashamed and eager to choose next time men whose qualifications for membership are wisdom and dignity—men who can forget personalities in their endeavour to perform good work for their country.