The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1934. “THE NEW DESPOTISM.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20455, 7 November 1934, Page 8

The Christchurch Star PUBLISHED BY New Zealand Newspapers Ltd. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1934. “THE NEW DESPOTISM.”

MR VERSCHAFFELT’S defence of the delegation of legislative powers to departmental otlicers misses the point in one or two notable directions. . The New Despotism has come about because of the demand for laws which impose an ever-increasing control over the actions of individuals, and this in part was the result of a Socialistic reaction against the individualism of the Victorian era, but those who prefer Socialistic philosophy should note that New Zealand is chafing greatly against the volume of oilicial interference that has been sponsored by Orders-in-Council, and it would be wise to place a strong curb on the jurisdiction of otlicial departments. At present we are qualifying for a yoke that might be acceptable to peoples of low mentality, but is highly repugnant to lovers of liberty. It is nonsense to say that delegated legislation is inevitable under the present Parliamentary system. Legislation could be self-operating, but to-day Parliament foolishly has imposed upon departments the power to dispense justice or to administer their own regulations to an extent which has undermined self-government. We have seen this principle proposed in the most dangerous degree within the last week in New Zealand, where the Government has already secured the second reading of a Bill which would authorise a bureau of agriculture in effect to make regulations having the force of law and setting at naught ." any contract between man and man ” which might be violated by a compliance with them. AN UNHAPPY EXAMPLE. MR VERSCHAFFELT says nothing about this but relies upon the electrical wiremen’s regulations to illustrate his case. He could not have chosen a more unhappy means of defending the tyranny of the bureaucrat, for Christchurch has lately had a visitation from electrical inspectors who have put the citizens to substantial expense for alterations to their electrical wiring system that have been necessitated by the recent and unnecessary requirements of pettifogging bureaucrats. Installations that have been officially passed by Government inspectors are subsequently' declared to be at fault and this outrageous system of running the citizens into needless expense is sufficient to disgust them utterly with everything Socialistic, even down to State water power. CHRISTMAS TALKIES. THERE IS a well-known professional man in the city whose family of intelligent adolescents were so amused at his reluctance to let them attend that saucy drama, “ The Dubarry,” that they decided to club together and buy him a copy' of “ Tiger Tim ” for Christmas. By analogy' the citizens ought to subscribe for a feeding bottle or powder puff' for the Mayor and Councillors because of their mid-Victorian attitude towards Christmas talkies. The talkie service is one that the people demand and that the nature of Christmas Day demands. By all means let us make it a merry and not a longfaced Christmas. THE MODERN FAIR. r I 'HERE IS STILL in the Agricultural and Pastoral Show something of the spirit of the old-time fair when town and country people met to do trade largely by barter, but the trade booths have become to-day a kind of aside from the central attraction of the show ring and the competitive exhibits, though a very' important aside. Except in side-show alley the fun of the fair has given place to the dignity of the fair, as if the Show had borrowed part of its character from the annual racing fixtures of this week. And that is to the good, for the greater the dignity of the Show the more it will attract city' people. Indeed, its appeal to both urban and farming interests would be greatly enhanced if it became more specifically the modern version of the trade fair.