The Dominion TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1943. REVIVIFYING PARLIAMENT

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 103, 26 January 1943, Page 4

The Dominion TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1943. REVIVIFYING PARLIAMENT

One of the most acute commentators on political affairs has stated that the problem confronting most of the democracies is the revivifying of Parliament under wartime conditions. Regarded frankly, it must be admitted that New Zealand is one where the need is particularly urgent. The Parliament of the land has assembled from time to time, often to sit for a matter of a few hours and for no inconsiderable part of that time in secret session, and no one could say that it had been what it should be, the focal point of a national effort, the source of a people’s inspiration, the generating station of powei diiected to ever greater achievement in every sphere of enteipiise and activity. Possibly one explanation of this serious development is that this is an old Parliament, elected over four, years ago on issues that had not the remotest connexion with the problems of today. . . At the present time there is a by-election in Christchurch East and it is probably of minor interest even to people in the constituency. National Interest will be limited to the declaration of the poll on election night. Tlie Minister who opened the campaign for the ofhcial Labour Party evidently felt impelled to follow the old lines, attempting to make them bright with promises—to be put into effect in the postwar years. His colleague the Minister of Public Works has stated that there is being prepared “a rehabilitation organization which would spring into action at the psychological moment” and from past experience many people will conclude that that moment will be the announcement of a general election. And even more people feel that these are not the methods called for at this serious period of the nation’s history. . . , And the duty of giving expression to this widespread teehng oi frustration devolves largely upon the Opposition. The risk of being accused of hampering the war effort need not be either or avoided. Such a charge would not ring true, and so would fail, there are a number of questions that could and should be debated fully in Parliament. Rehabilitation is one of them. It appears to. have been passed over to some committee or commission plaitrfy bearing the imprint of party, and let go at that. But Parliament cannot delegate its responsibilities in that fashion. This is a matter in which the elected representatives of the people should take the most active part, and discuss the policy to be adopted but only after.they have defined clearly the goal they have in mind. It cannot be said that the people of New Zealand have even a hazy idea of what it is intended to do. The Opposition should exercise its rights to ensure that these matters are fully and freely discussed, and they can advocate what the Government plainly feels disinclined to do, the settlement of land with the right to ownership as the national basis of rehabilitation, with the subdivision of the extensive State farms as a commencement. It could press for provisions whereby the men who have served overseas would have an opportunity to acquire homes, a very different thing from being provided with a State house in which to live. Smely these men will have a right to at least the same conditions as the miners. Last year the Minister of Labour told Parliament of advances totalling £40,000 for the erection of homes near one mine and he added: ‘One day the miners will own those homes.” In view of that fact will the country be content to have its ex-servicemen given the status of tenants only? • These and many other questions require frank and open discussion, and Parliament is thp place for it. But Parliament has become a place of secret sessions, rush legislation, with fai too little legaid by its members for the need of enlightened criticism of administrative weaknesses and the drift toward bureaucratic dictatorship. It is for the Opposition to see. as far as lies in its power, that the. House does not become simply the place where the approval stamp is placed on *■ things already done or on decisions already reached elsewheie. - n , looking ahead, there is the plain duty devolving on those in Opposition to take steps to provide opportunities for men and women with iiesh outlooks and less sectionalized views to take a place in the government of the country. That would at least be one way to revivify Parliament.