THE " PARTY SYSTEM."

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1803, 16 July 1913, Page 8

THE " PARTY SYSTEM."

FARMERS' VIEWS. ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE URGED. STRONG OPPOSITION. Brisk discussion took place at tlio New Zealand Mariners' Union Conference yesterday, over a proposal put forward as a remit from Auckland, favouring the abolition of the "party system" of government in favour of government by Elective Executive. Tho remit urged that a committee be appointed by tho Dominion Conference to consider and draft a scheme of government by Elective Executive, in order that the, Farmers' Union may bo able to enter on an active campaign to bring this principle clearly beiore tho eleotors of the Dominion. Tho remit was moved by Major Lush, who said tho matter was brought before tho conference on a previous occasion, and was forwarded to all unions for an opinion. Tho Auckland Union was firmly convinced that an Elective Executive would give the best results. There were a large number of men who considered that the "party system" was not tho best, and even in Parliament many members admitted that somo such amendment would fljj) beneficial. It would facilitate business tremendously. Many proposals ndw wcro not decided oil their merits, but ou the question of whether tho proposals would affect the Government or not. Mr. H. D. Vavasour (Marlborough) seconded the remit. For years, he said, ho had been preaching high and -low the iniquity of party government. It was pretty well conceded that one of tho best governed countries in tho world was Switzerland, and there the government was on tho system of Elective Executive. The speaker considered tho present party government system was the curse of New Zealand and England as well. A- man might be as honest as he could, but the time came when he sacrificed his opinions in favour of his party. Five yeara ago the proposition would have been "poohpoohed," but now a large number of thinking people were in favour of a non-party Government. Itr. J. Bell (Westland) said for years he had been a strong opponent to pait.y government. While the party system was in operation they. could not get justice. They did not progress with party government. At present a man. had to voto against his principles in Parliament. An Elective Executive would result in better men being returned to Parliament. They (the union) might not get all they wanted at once, but tho time was coming when they would triumph. Position Would 'be Worse, Mr. J. M'Queen (Southland) opposed the motion. The greatest Empire the world had ever seen had been built up under tho party system. (Hear, hear.) There was no system which would be as effective. It prevented hasty legislation, and if they took tho "brake" off, things would go down very quickly. Even if they had the Elective Executive, did they think it would do away with party government? No. The strongest man would draw a party round him. The result in tho long run would be pretty much the same "only worse." No country in the world where party government did not exist came to anything. At present tho whole of the doctors were watching the party, criticising it, and turning it out when satisfaction was not given. The jKirty system iwas tho most educative system. Tho Opposition did its part by watching tho weak points. The only tiling they should guard against was keeping one party iu power too long. Unfortunately tho last Government, were so long in power that they did not know how to consider a matter. Their critical faculties wero iu abeyance.

Mr. AV. J. Birch (Marton) was opposed to the motion, lie could not vote against ii constitution which had'brought thorn to their present form of freedom. He did not,see now the party system could be (ione away with. There must always be two views to a question, and an Elective Executivo would only be clected 011 party views. Mr. S. Chambers (Hawko's Bay) opposed the motion. Tho party system had stood the test very well. A Ridiculous Proposal. Mr. Geo. Gardner (North Canterbury) thought the proposal was "a little bit (in the ridiculous side." Mr. E. Maxwell (Tarannki) in opposing the motion said it was ridiculous to bring up such a motion as one of a long list of remits 011 many subjects. Such a question should require the most careful discussion and consideration. The great point in the party system was that" all questions were fully debated from both sides, and the truth was so arrived at. He thought they would make themselves ridiculous if. they passed any motion, after a few'minutes' discussion, to alter a system which had built up the greatest nation of tho world. (Applause.) Major Lusk, replying, said that it was c,uito evident that the majority of tho conference were against tho proposal, but lie believed it was because they had not thought about the matter, and did not realise whftt tho Auckland branch wore driving at. They wanted every question l>efore Parliament to be considered on its merits, nnd not as to how it would affect the party. Tho motion was lost on tho voices. Department v. Public. Tho following remit dealing with legislation ivas also considered on the motion of Mr. A'. A. Boss (Auckland):—"That this union views with grave concern a tendency on the part of various Government Departments to place the interests of the Department before the interests of die ■.public, and would urge the Government to establish some system whereby the different Departments in their relations with each other and with the local governing bodies, would be controlled, ami ony disturbance in Departmental finance equitably adjusted where necessary, so that there would bo no obstacle to their eo-operation ill tho interests of the general public." > Tho motion was carried.