PARTY POLITICS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2210, 24 July 1914, Page 5

PARTY POLITICS

"TIME-WASTING & MUD-THROWING"

FARMERS ON THE PARTY SYSTEM The proposition, of national government by elective executive was discussed at yesterday's sitting of the Dominion Conference of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. The subject was introduced through the following remit from Auckland:— "That the Dominion Conference should again bo asked to appoint' a committee to consider and draft a scheme of government by clectivo executive for this country, in order that the Farmers' Union may be able to enter on an active campaign to bring this" principle clearly before the electors of the Dominion." Major Lusk, who moved the remit, said that there was no doubt that the party system wasted, considerable time. Parliament spent its time discussing who was to sit on the Treasury benches instead of doing the business of the country. Ail elective executive could consider matters apart from the question of who should hold the power, and a great deal of mud-slinging would be done away with. They had all heard of members of Parliament, who had voted against their consciences because the question was a party matter. Mr. J. M'Queen (Southland) seconded the motion pro forma. He tliought the remit should be' dropped. It was a bad time to discuss it, and it should not .go . forth to the people that the Farmers' Union had dealt with such a subject in five minutes.

Captain Colbeck ( Auckland) said that the present was an excellent time to bring the matter up. When before Parliament previously it -was only lost by two votes, and now that the parties were fairly .evenly balanced the chance of effecting "this great reform" was good. The present system resulted in a gross waste of time.

Sir. M'Queen: Waste of time? Captain Colbeck: If you went up' there you would know that.

Mr. M'Queen: The more time they vaste the better. . .

Captain Oolbeok: I hope the Farmers' Union will not 'act on that principle. I don't think it is desirable to pay men to go to Parliament to throw mud at one another.

Mr. G. Sheat (Canterbury) said that there -was no time at the conference to go thoroughly into the question. Others agreed with this view. Mr. W. B. Matheson (Eketahuna): Wo have not time to go into the question in detail, but most of us have lived for thirty years or so, and have an opinion on it. ' A delegate: Let a» say, "Yes" or "No." »' . Mr. Matheson-: Right; I will vote for it. Mr. J. Bell (Westland): The greater reform is needed. The party system isobsolete and rotten. Mr. P. Meehan (Marlborough): The bitterness and barking which goes on in the House is a disgrace to the country. I'would sooner go and see a lot of boys playing marbles.

A delegate: You went up there last night

Mr. Meehan: I never saw the House so bad as it is . now. It is simply one fellow blackguarding the other, and there is no politics at all.

Mr. E. Campbell (Wanganui): I should like to mention one side, of the case which has not been ' touched on. The party system has had the effect of keeping some of tlio best men we .have ever , had out of public life. Some of the best men I know would not stand for a seat in.tho House, even if they were assured of elcjtioc. simply because of party government.

Mr. G. W. Leadley (Aslibnrton), who opposed the motion in the form in which it bad been drawn up, said that everyone seemed to look upon party government as a bad system.

Mr. M'Qiiecn: It is the devil wo know.

Mr; E. Maxwell (Taranaki) said that the matter had been discussed by the union time after time, and the principle had been -lefeated. In Australia there had of late arisen a very serious state of affairs, and it was realised that thoso who wero going to suffer most were the metfi o the land. Tho power, it was "there seen, would be in ' the bands of the men in the towns. Only the notorious men would Teach tho Council. Tho quiet, statesmanlike men would not Ret a cliance.

Finally it'was resolypd that the ques-t-ion' should be remitted to the branches before'any decision was arrived at.