Life Of Parliament

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 28, 28 October 1942, Page 6

Life Of Parliament

Sir, —When the Prime Minister suggested that the House resume in December the question Was asked: “There is no chance of being involved in a general election at that time, is there?” The Prime Minister is reported in Friday’s “Dominion” as having replied: “Not unless the Leader of the Opposition would like to test the House again." The result of the- no-confidence motion was, of course, a foregone conclusion, because of the Government’s majority, but nevertheless the debate served a useful purpose seeing that there is not a National Government as a beacon of unity and - inspiration. The vote of confidence may not reflect the opinion .of the majority of electors, for the reason the members of the present Parliament have only a peacetime mandate.

Extending the life of Parliament wds accepted in the main as a prelude to forming a National Government, but seemingly this has now gone by the board. Until circumstances facilitate holding a general election and thus permitting democracy to speak, any vote of confidence is out of step with democracy itself. Any other view would be inconsistent with the fundamental principles of democracy, unless, of course, we are prepared to disown those principles. Unfortunately a great weakness, in our national life is the lack of political education, consequently there prevails ignorance of the practical efficiency of the democratic system. Demos demands that before it is possible to attain an efficient democratic system electors must pass through the vestibule of enlightenment before they can enter the hall ot wisdom. —I am, etc., CIVIS. Wellington, October 25.