The Waikato Times. With which is Incorporated. The Waikato Argus. MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1928. PARLIAMENT.

Waikato Times, Volume 104, Issue 17533, 15 October 1928, Page 6

The Waikato Times. With which is Incorporated. The Waikato Argus. MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1928. PARLIAMENT.

For the last few days the papers been full of the feverish activity of Parliament, which has put through so much business in such a short time that it is difficult to imagine that it has had much attention. There is nothing unusual in this, although the haste is doubtless increased by the desire of members to get to their constituencies,, where rivals are already at work. Every session, however, shows the same features. The early weeks of 'the session are occupied by an entirely futile motion of want of confidence, in which members talk at large on any and every subject, without any expectation that, the talk will result in anything. It is known that it will not affect votes, nor will it lead to the reform of any abuse. Would it not be possible to conduct the business of Parliament in a more businesslike manner? The want-of-confidence motion should be dropped unless parties are so evenly divided as to make a trial of strength reasonable. The first move lies with the Opposition, and the next with the Government, which should be ready with the stock business, the Budget, the Public Works Statement, the Estimates, and the numerous matters that require the formal consent of Parliament. There would even then be matters left over for the dying hours of the session, but they would be fewer in number. The Washing-up Bill, which is such a feature of every session, might be curtailed by a little management. It is not unusual to see the same consent given to one local body after another in this Washing-up Bill, although it should be somebody's business lo see that the original Act is amended rather than I create so many exceptions lo it. There does not seem to be anybody whose business it is to keep such legislation to the narrowest limits possible. Orders-in-Council are another matter which should be re r trie ted as much as possible. They cannot be avoided entirely, but they have reached a point I which calls for attention. A good deal of our legislation leaves it to the Governor in Council to prescribe the whole procedure, and this may be a matter of importance. The formula "Governor in Council" conceals the fact that it is the department that draws up and decides the whole matter. The blame for this lies with members, who leave to the departments work I which they ought to carry out themselves. They complain sometimes of the encroachments of the Civil Service and do not seem to realise that they are often to blame. The chief want in Parliament is more ability, and ability of the right kind. There is enough and to spare of the knowledge of how to woo a consti- , tuency and win an election, but of how < to legislate and what to legislate about • there is very little knowledge. Do . members realise what a poor figure . they displayed in accusing the Workers" Educational Association of party bias? ' Some branch of the association has no j doubt adversely criticised some pro- ] ceeding of the Government; there are ' many that might be attacked, and it would seem that those criticised could , not believe it possible anyone could < honestly disagree with them. The 1 j Workers' Educational Association is j } doing good work, though it is to be |, feared that but little of it is with ' i the workers. The members of the ' House should be well pleased that ( young people are interesting them- < selves in public affairs. One result is \ likely to be that they will demand a * higher level of capacity In their repre- ; sentatives. All Governments are in- I clined to favour the return of men who will vote blindly for their party with- . out troubling the leaders for reasons, ' and a bad habit has grown up of asking for official approval of certain : candidates. It is, of course, ridicul- : ous for several men of one party to < stand, but it should rest with the con- ' stituents to decide who is to be the , official candidate. It should not be difficult to decide, because it is gener- ' ally obvious in such cases that some ' of the candidates are thinking of them- , selves and not of their party. The . trouble arises because people are so !' apathetic between elections and so ex- |j cited when the fight begins. If some I j of the enthusiasm which they display ! in securing the election of one man i' rather than another were turned in the direction of supporting or oppos- I; ing some specific legislation the results ' would be greater. As a first step to- j: wards securing greater ability we • should pay an honorarium that would be worth consideration, and the duration of Parliament might be increased from three years to five. It is not' pleasant lo have the House indulging in the kind of Billingsgate which disgraced the proceedings more than once ' last session, and it seems that the near , approach, of an election is what in- > duces members to lose their manners. ' Parliament will lose the general re- ' spect unless it maintains decorum and j shows some capacity to deal with the ] affairs of the Dominion. It is admitted ' that conditions have not been satisfac- j tory for some time, but neither Gov- | ernment nor Opposition have been able i to offer any suggestions of a remedy. ( Yet if it is not to be found in the House, where are we to look for it? , It is not enough to hold the reins while < the country drifts: leadership of some ' kind is a necessity.