AN ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 304, 19 September 1919, Page 6

AN ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE

FARMERS OPPOSE PROPOSAL.

The conference of the' Now Zealand ' Farmers' Union yesterday considered a remit from Otago that the union should approve the principle of government by an elective executive. Mr. P. Keegan (Auckland) said that his executive'favoured the principle. At present the. leader of the strongest party in the House selected his. .Ministry, whereas under the elective proposal the SO members of the House would decide as to who should form the Cabinet of the Dominion. .. "I think Home Rule for Ireland would be just about as useful as an elective executive," remarked Mr. J. A. MLeavey (Wellington). Under the executive principle there would be'notlnns but deadlocks and confusion. "At present in tho House," observed another delegate, "it is a case of narty first and country last." (Laughter.) Mr H D. Vavasour (Marlborough) endorsed the remit. Party government, he said, was the curse of Now Zealand, and it was time a change was made. The statesmen at Home were coming to he opinion that party government was t, failure and were in favour of tho eounrv being ruled by' the, bes brains of the land New Zealand," said' Mr. Vavasour, "we have ~o' stntesmen-they. are party poll--JIT'E/ Maxwell (Tnranaki). moved as an amendment that the whole o the members of the party m power should elect the executive. Mr. I?. Dunn (Taranaki) seconded the amendment. * ~"' Both the amendment and the motion were lost.- ;