UNIVERSITY DEBATING SOCIETY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 283, 26 August 1919, Page 6

UNIVERSITY DEBATING SOCIETY

7 DEBATE ON PAETT POLITICS. !A debate of oonsiderablo interest in View of recent political developments was that arranged by tho Victoria College Debating Society for Saturday 'evening last. Tho motion set down tor discussion .was "That the experience of four yfeais of political trace demonstrates tho of an early return to party politics." Mr. G. W. "Morice, M.A., presided, and the case for tho affirmativo ivas opened by Mr. 0, Q. Bope, supported by Mr. W. L. Davidson. The motion was

.. "opposed by Mr. W. A, Eheat, seconded - by Mr. P. Martin-Smith. Mr, Popes iu moving the motion rcferred. briefly to the historical origin and development of tho sjstem of party ... government Party . politics were inevitable. History had shown, that when ' a system of non-party politios had been ... pursued, disaster hod attended it. When ..-George 111. with tSie assistance of tho 'r Elder Pitt formed a non-party Ministry - England entered into a period of tho worst humiliation and disaster she had ever experienced. A system of party .politics was an effective means of bringing the executive under the control of Parliament. It subjected Ministers to - daily searching criticism and ultimate- ,... ly established the usage that they must .' resign as soon as it became evident that they no longer possessed the support of the Parliamentary majority. Moreover, tho.6ystem ensured coherence and sta.bility in policy. ' Mr. Pope said that a Coalition Government struck at the root principles of responsible government and representative government. In the ab- / Benco of candid and responsible criticism ;; # was almost inevitable that Important ; »j- measures would be shelved. Party go*-. .-, ; ernmcnt had in tho past proved , a con- . .spumous i success, and a return to such : a system. was in every way desirable. "llr. Sheat, in opposing the motion .. . etated. that while not wishing to defend the policy of the National Government he was of tho opinion that a return to the old system of party warfare was in the highest degree undesirable. In '• criticising the administration of the late . Government-it was well to remember that tho coalition was formed to meet an emergenoy snch as a 'oolonial Government hail never beforo been called upon to face and, in the absence of a parallel . case by which to judge its success, it was Boarcely justifiable to state that a purely party Cabinet would have mastered tho situation with greater success. Mr. Sheat referred to many of tho grave abuses which were tho outcome of party politics. Tho subordination of personal opinion to un- ■ swerving loyalty to party was 'pqrhaps the worst feature of the old system. The .imperfections of the recent' Coalition . wero"no. argument for a'return to the old. party strugglo. The Coalition had •: been formed .mainly by a conference of tho party leaders from a Houso elected ■under conditions of hitter party strife. Such a National Government was at best .the product of a truce, and was by no means tho ideal form. Tho ideals of true democratic government might 'be more nearly attained to not by a re- , version to the old antiquated 6ystem, but by tho adoption of somo scheme whereby the House would elect its cxecutivo on personal merit. Principle and not party 6hould be the deciding factor. Mr. Davidson, in supporting Mr. Pope, said that tho.party system of government arose out of fundamental differences of opinion. Tho systom was both natural and necessary. The disadvantages inherent in the; system in its earlier stages had been overcomo by tho growth, of intelligence. The system did not lead to the sinking of personal opinion. Tho results of tho Coalition had been disastrous. In tho absence of criticism tho wheels of progress liad becomo cloggcd. Preo and independent judgment were tho result of tho party systom, not of tho coalition. Only by a return to tho party system could politicians restore that general interest in public welfare which was the essential of true progress. Mr. Martin-Smith, in seconding the . opposition to tho motion, said that tho true aim of govornmont was tho focussing of tho best brain-power of a country on the vital problems . pertaining to tho country's wolfaro nnd progress. This could never bo fully attained under the blindness of tho party system. Under the banner of party, politicians went, to the farthest extremes often against their own personal convictions. • Personal advancement becamo the dominant motivo iu political life, and tho result whs the corruption so noticeable Under extreme forma of party government. The system had in (lie past resulted in keeping the best men out ol . parliament, ami as tho demand was greater now than ever beforo for tho return of'tho most capable men to office, . a return to party warfare would ue a retrograde step. Numerous other speakers took part in ..the discussion, at the closo of wlucli the motion was put to tliu mooting find lost small majority. .