SYSTEMS OF PETITIONING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 656, 5 November 1909, Page 5

SYSTEMS OF PETITIONING.

■:'s:K:^<■''{: iSJIT'FUTILE? ;; •.;■■'. ..'.'.The'systemi of presenting petitions in connection, with ;public- works, wus again debated .in" tho'House yesterday-afternoon.- ■ The Priinr;, Minister averred that the fact : that .a committejs favourably recommended a work'did not have the slightest weight. It .was a mistaken, idea for people to believe that a favourable report gave the request in question a prior claim. : As a matter of fact every application was considered on its merits. A committee; could not have information outside the i :member. ;for the. district to warrant a claim. which : it. recommended to have a su-pc-rior. position, among the applications. It would be incomparably better if petitioners wore told I to send their petitions to tho Minister .for.-Public Works.: '■...- .■;'.-■'. -'.; Referring to the-.matter, later, Mr.' Massey said that the present system of granting votes ■ was tho worst part, of the existing system'of Governmental administration. If, as had been, suggested, it would take a committee six months to go into .petitions properly, - it was impossible for, the Executive to give them proper consideration in a few weeksi Members of Parliament should have some control over public expenditure instead of the requests being- handed over to the heads of the Departments. A more business-like and more satisfactory system was urgently needed. Mr. Baume complained that the Government did not always give sufficient weight to the recommendations of committees on petitions. " It would be far bettor," he remarked, "to face the position boldly and say that no petition should be- accepted by the House, or on tho receipt of a potition it should bo referred to the.Public Works Department." ■Mr. Boss condemned the present system, which, he said, was only a back-stairs system. -■ ' .; ■"- ' . . -.. Mr.,Massey: Petitioning cannot come under the heading "back-stairs.". . , Mr. Boss deprecated the practice of chambers of commerce, etc., making recommendations with reference to public works. . : "I believe I am tho, most bashful member in the House in regard to votes for public works," remarked Mr. -Hogg, who proceeded t) advise members to place their trust in the Public Works Department ' .-., .