THE ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 2, 2 July 1896, Page 2

THE ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE.

The Bill under the above title, the second reading of which passed last night in the House of Representatives, provides that on assembling of Parliament after each general election, so soon as the House has elected a Speaker, the members shall proceed to elect five Ministers and one Executive Councillor without Ministerial office from amonp the members of the House, and one Minister from among the members of the Legislative Council. If more than the required number be nominated then the election shall be decided by ballot. The names of the " chosen ones " who head the poll will be handed by the Speaker to His Excellency the Governor, who may signify his approval or the reverse. That being done with, the eight members shall select one of their number for Prime Minister, and the portfolios will be afterwards allocated among the other six. The Prime Minister is not to " run the show " during the existence of Parliament, but shall be appointed from year to year for a term not exceeding twelve months, and the same member of the Executive shall not continue to be Prime Minister for a term longer tban one year unless he be reappointed to snch office by vote of the Executive. This is to give every member a chance. Altogether the Bill is amusing, and as its author, the Hon. Major Steward, is a poet of some parts, it is a great pity he did not write it in verse, and have it set to music.