The White Ribbon: FOR GOD AND HOME AND HUMANITY Monday, October 15 1900. The Premier or the People.

White Ribbon, Volume 6, Issue 65, 1 October 1900, Page 6

The White Ribbon: FOR GOD AND HOME AND HUMANITY Monday, October 15 1900. The Premier or the People.

Whatever good service the system of Government by Cabinet may have rendered in the past, it becomes increasingly evident that it is now antagonistic to the welfare of the people. I his has been painfully emphasised on two occasions during the past few weeks. Mr Ell, one of the members for Christchurch, is an earnest-minded and public-spirited man, whose steady and persistent zeal for the good of the community has won the respect of all classes. He contested the election as an Independent Liberal, and during the session has accorded the Governnu’at a general support.

Faithful to his Pledges, he has endeavoured to mould legisla. tion into such a shape as he considered would be for the best interests of the colony. For this lie has been publicly brow-beaten by Mr Seddon, and has been told in plain terms thrt he was cast off and must join the Opposition. Mr Collins is another Christchurch member, who has been regarded in the past as too subservient to the Premier. He, too, in the endeavour to carry out the wishes of his constituents, has been bullied, hectored, and sneered at by Mr Seddon. Our system of Party Government has so degeneiated that, as Mr Collins justly said, a representative of the people is expected to become a mere puppet, and vote simply as he is ordered. “ It would be better,” said he, “ not to come there at all, merely sending up tickets to be put in a box whenever any policy was proposed by the Government.’ That this is no exaggeration is becoming A Notorious Fact. It is, indeed, no uncommon thing for certain members to spend much of their time in Bellamy’s, and other parts of the House and grounds, rushing into the Chamber when the division bell rings, and asking which way they arc

to vote. For this they are paid two hundred and fifty pounds a year, and receive allowances which make the total sum paid to them equal to three hundred p unds. Because they are obedient and give the Government no trouble they derive the full benefit of the Government support at election time, and are, of course, quite of opinion that Party Government is the finest possible thing. It is quite evident that The System is Wrong \\ hat is wanted is an Executive elected by the representatives of the people, instead of a Cabinet chosen by the Ptemiei. The longer this reform is delayed the more frequently shall we he reminded that the whole power of Government is passing into the hards of one man, that the democracy which we fondly hoped for is become an autocracy of a most dangerous type.