CHOOSING A MINISTRY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 13059, 29 April 1910, Page 4

CHOOSING A MINISTRY.

Eider Haggard, the novelist, reported by cable as complaining of the evils of party government and Hie machinations of party organisations. It is not merit, ho says, which ensures a man's return to Parliament, hut money. What Mr Haggard’s proposed remedy is, we arc not informed. Tiie complaiuer in such cases frequently urges the abolition of the party machine by the disbanding of political organisations, which is a futile proposition, lor so long as party government exists political societies must necessarily flourish. There is really only one oll’cctivo way to end the ills complained of, and that is the adoption of the Elective Ministry. Under the present system, it is almost impossible to have a uum her oi strong men in u Cabinet, and at the same tune preserve' harmony therein. There is thus a direct inducement to a Prime Minister, when selecting his colleagues, to choose weak men whom he knows will he subservient to his will, and who will sneak only by his .permission. Then again, if a .Minister have any opinion of his own differing' from those , held by his colleagues, he must either keep it to himself and vote against his conscience, or imperil the existence of tho Ministry by speaking out. Further one Minister’s fault may cause the other Ministers to. lose their seats, which hardly seems, just. Also tho Cabinet’s supporters, if disagreeing with Ministerial proposals, arc faced with the alternative of voting liir what they don’t believe in. or turning the Ministry out of office and letting the other party in. With an Elective Ministry, each member thereof would bo appointed by the whole of Parliament for the term of Parliament, responsible only for Isis own Departments, and bound to carry out the will of the majority. In fact, the Ministry would become the servants of Parliament which they ought to be, instead of its masters as they generally are. The new Australian Cabinet is to be chosen by the whole of the party now in power, ami the same course is being pursued in respect of the new South Australian Stale Ministry, Prom this to choosing by tho whole oi Parliament is but a short step, and one that it is sate to predict will be taken in Australia before very long.