Correspondence

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 115, 13 November 1893, Page 2

Correspondence

PARTY GOVERNMENT, REFERENDUM, COURTS OP ARBITRATION. | Letter No. 3-1 TO THE EDITOR .OF THB STAB. Sir,— l promised in my last letter to dwell more at length on Party Government in my present article. Is Party Government a success ? Everybody—except those engaged ia politics who if not among the ' ing ' is among the ' outs ' and hopes to be in the ' ins ' and to benefit in some way by the change- says is it a failure. Why is it a failure? Simply because it leads to a disgraceful scramble for the loaves and fishes of office. The Ministers in power like to stick to the Government benches, and their energies and talents are too often engaged in questionable tactics in order to keep their party together, so as to have at all times a majority at their back, and thus the real interests of the country are neglected. For the opinions of such men as Cowen, Sir A. Musgrave, Maine, Erskine May, Goschen, JFroude, Goldwin Smith, Justin McCarthy, Lord Hartington, see the pamphlet which I compiled for The Constitutional Reform Committee of the House of Representatives in 1891, and which has been published by the Government, and for those interested in the subject of Parliamentary Reform, I have left at the Star office, where they may be seen and read, (1) a copy of the above mentioned pamphlet; (2) a long list of articles and books bearing on the Evils of Party Governmsnt; and (3) a Digest of the History of the Swiss Constitution. A thoughtful perusal of the above will convince any reasonable man or woman that a reform in and of Parliament is required. A reform in Parliament, i c., of the members, which is perhaps the most difficult to accomplish. A Parliament of a country ought to be a reflex of the people. New Zealand is a pastoral country, and a large proportion of her population are engaged in wool and mutton raising ; therefore it follows, as a matter of fair play and justice, that farmers should preponderate in the House ot Representatives. The merchants, manufacturers, artisans, and labourers ought also to have their representatives. But there is one class of men who ought never to be sent to the House to make laws — they are lawyers. Would the burgesses of Feilding, or the ratepayers of the Manchester Block, elect rangers and then allow these said rangers to carry out rules of their own making ? Ridiculous ! absurd 1 grunts some reader. Yes, it would be ridiculous and absurd for the owners of stock, but it would doubtless be a jolly good thing for the rangers. They could easily make rules that would lead to a very good and paving business for them. What would be ridiculous and absurd in so small a matter as the Impounding Act is even more ridiculous and absurd, or rather a far more serious thing in sending lawyers to Parliament to make laws by which they themselves live and grow fat. By the "bye, a great many letters have been written anent the Feilding Bje-laws, but none of the writers seem to me to have gone to the root of the matter. If there is anyone on the Borough Council who will benefit bj the petty and perhaps unwitting breach of any of these laws, then one of two courses ought to be taken : (1) either that these Bye-laws should be resisted en masse ; or (2) that such party —if there is one— who will derive a benefit from the breach of the said Bye-laws should be asked to retire from the Council, and the said Bye-laws to be then discussed by the rest of the Council who are not directly interested in any breaches of sucli lawß. This view of the case will, I think, commend itself to all thoughtful people, and if it were done it would satisfy many who look with considerable suspic ion on the said Bje-Laws. But to hark back to the House. Some will say lawyers as representatives are necessary to help the other members to put the laws into shape. This is a mistaken notion. The laws are drafted by Government law officers, who are always on the spot during the session, and their advice and guidance in the wording and bearing of any clauses of a Bill can be obtained immediately. This letter is long enough. In my next I will dwell on reform .in the House, i.e., in regard to forms of procedure. I am, etc., Geobge Wilks. Clare Lea, Feilding.