MINISTER WITHOUT ELECTORS’ MANDATE

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22461, 23 September 1944, Page 4

MINISTER WITHOUT ELECTORS’ MANDATE

Discussing the estimates for the National Service Department, the Opposition members in the House of Representatives returned to their objection to the Minister in charge of the department being in the Upper House and not being available personally to answer criticism or requests for information. The Prime Minister answered' by quoting precedents in Britain and elsewhere, but that will not satisfy most of the people of New Zealand. Whatever may be said in favour of appointing the best man available inside or outside the House—and there is an argument in that regard, especially in a time of emergency—that does not explain why the Minister of National Service, the Hon. A. McLagan, did not seek the approval of the electorate at the first opportunity. This is not democratic procedure and is especially objectionable in the case of a Minister who has power to direct the services of'every man and woman in the country. Not long after Mr McLagan’s appointment a general election was held. The Minister appeared on election platforms in support of other candidates but did not himself submit to the judgment of the electorate. It has been claimed that because the appointment was made by a majority representative government, democratic procedure was preserved, but that again is a fallacy because the appointment depended upon the judgment of the Cabinet and not upon that of the electorate. And it opens the way to political patronage. Naturally the department came under a fire of criticism on the estimates and there were many questions which members desired to ask in the House, but their questions could only go through a third party, who could only undertake to consult the Minister directly responsible. No precedent in any country justifies an appointed Minister failing to seek the approval of the electors at the first opportunity. It would be as reasonable, and less harmful} for the Government to appoint a private member to a vacancy in an electorate without holding an election.