ELECTION OF MINISTERS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1924, Page 4

ELECTION OF MINISTERS

, J 1 AIITV SYSTEM DLSCCSSKD. AIK 11 AN AX’S BILL. (Lyttelton Times Correspondent) WELLINGTON, Sept. H>. The election of Ministers and Party Government Reform Rill was the title of a measure which the Hon .). A. Hamm -ought to introduce in the House to-day. Though he was hriel in his reference to the measure, which had not appeared in print at that stage, the subject was taken up readily liy many other members, with the result that a long debate ensued, while the Prime Minister interposed an occasional reference to lime- wasting. Next on the order paper was the introduction of Air Alassey s Legislatiie Aet Amendment Bill, which has al-rc-ailv heen considerably delated members’ talkativeness in the aftermini. . , Mr llamm expressed the hc-hel teat there was a general desire among the electors for reform of the present system by the removal of some ol tinevils (If par tv government. Everyone who had watched events in progrcs-ive communities realised the necessity ol changing the form ol Government to meet the conditions of the times. A\ hen there were only two parties in New Zealand there might not have keen so much ground for the measure, hut with the development of the three puity system some change was needed to give stability to the situation. New /■>'•]- lend did not wish to repeat the position of Britain which had a Government in ..lib-- hit not in power. I the „roup system developed in our I allotment there would he a Government w ithout, snllii ient r mrnge to initiate suhstantial measures of reform. Already there had appeared in the House e l.uttler group, a wool group, a wheat

group— . , . Mr Massey: Ami an anti-gamnlmg group (1 .aughti-r.) ' Mr llamm agreed, lidding that his Bill, by providing fur the election ol Aliai.-i-rs. would scenic a Government representative of the majority of members. As the Hou.-e was constituted to-day it was dominated hv a one-man Government, supported by party backs. If the svstem he suggested were adopted I’aiTiamenl would regain the 1 peel if had lost io the eyes of the country. Mr Sidi-.v eongralulati-d the nu mber for Invercargill on his measure. Even the |’rime .Minister must admit that there was need for reform in the sysU'Mi nl piwrmwiit.

.Mr M:is>t\V: IMcmil.v ill* ninin lor mi* provomcnt. .Mr Sitle.v r«M»iiim!«ml tin* 1 *riMmister that 'prior t-) Ihe election before lost In- had talked of reforming the political system. I.ut on that nee.-isimi lie was not sure of a working majority. When he got his majority In- settled down ("Uiil'oiT.ahly on ill - same terms as hel'oie. Something was wrong when half the House took side and the remainder took the other side mi a 11 Iicslion. regardless ol il-; m.-rit (JROI'P SYSTEM ('DMING.

Mr Forbes said that New Zealand already bad mine to the three-party system and was working towards tipgroup system, therefore it was time Parliament adapted its machinery to the important change which was coining about. it < oil li I hardly he said that llie Government- was in ollii eby the votes of l In- people. The Prime Minister was a benevolent autocrat, hut it had been well said that no matter howpure ami lofty were the ideals of a mall lie tended to he-.iiae- despotic il he remained too long in power. Mr Ala-sey who had been twelve veals ill oilirc, had reached ibis position, .Mr Alassey: The wish i- lather to lluthought. Air l-Tirhes finally suggested that the illu-1 rat ion of the three-party system In Biitaiu would loinim-e i-c.-iyoiii-that such a system was not tli-siruhlc. |L allowed a minority to administer i Inlaws. This was seen in New Zealand, where the Government put on the statute hook laws which were unite r:c!iia I. hut as il hail charge of the ;01-u -u ims I i.i | ii:n it look care that nothing radical was dime.

The lion l>. Rod-In declared thatparty government had been discredited in all pails of the Empire and lie In-artily joined hands with an.MOie who sought Io make an impon. i-mriil in Ihe exist ing s t \ ■ i--in.

•‘No doubt ii.utv gov*- riiiiteiil I- O | , iii-se," dei h.r.-l All ill- la I VlTello. who , urged hat I In- best brains in I’allia- j lileilt should he secured lor the Alin- , i-l rv hv means of an elei live system, j which In- understood was advocated in Air Hunan's Rill. I Air Sullivan said Hull if men won11ul ial > th-* .Ministry from all sides nl , Ihe House I here would never he anv' agreement "ii mailers ol policy. lie amusingly pictured ihe possibilities ol j tin* situation, such as Mr Isill appear- , iiu.i in a Cabinet containing a majority { of Labourites.

Air (savage said In- thought Iroio the miner’s remarks that the Rill was an attempt In i reale all elective executive. (I'overmiii-lil did not begin in I’uili.l1111*111. hut in industry. Il alter next election the three parlies were returned nearly eipial what would make two of them come loL'ether would lie a natural desire l-i defend themselves, 'flu? Cneriimeiil of Ihe future would .-impiv he i-ompused of Labour and its upnmients. Air Isill said il was dillicidt to uni remedies fill- the existing evils. He had seen m.-nd.eis who. having supported ihe elective executive, had changed their views and become enthusiastic lor thi* party system when tln-v became asoir.nils for ollice.

Ml Atiunre said Hull throughout 'lllworld representative assemblies were finding il extremely dillieult lo liinetinn. As had been pointed out. most members when they mine into ilit* House were disgiisied with party go-vi-rii 1111*111. Some ol lie* most harden. -d Ceiis-.-i valives w hen fust in the House expressed disapproval 'l 'no parly nuii-hine. Men like All in;--’, when in Opposition, supported *h* elective exeeutive. but to-day on a division tin* I’lime Minister would walk into the lobby and vote agiin-l "nf which commended itself to him holme he was head of the party. Air Afassi-.v: Of course ] will, f know belter now. All- Atmore said there was growing, disgust with the party machine. Alen stood ii|) and spoke in one direction, but on tin* crack ol tin* party whin they veted in the eppo-ite direction. II a roforondum of the people were taken Air Atnnue thought the public vnuld endorse the Rill by a large ma- : iri I v. A CA 111 NET SrOGIKfrOX.

Air l-'raser maintained that economic dividing lines necessarily existed in society and must make themselves manifesi in any representative body like Parliament. I.ahnnr would willingly snpunrL Air Italian's Rill if ft. was a measure to bring about sensible, sound, reasonable and highly necessary coalition of Liberals and Reform, with fair and impartial distribution of portfolios. lit* suggested that Air Italian should carry out negotiations with Mr Alassey, who. All- l-iaser was certain, would willingly lend an ear, and with Air Wilford for the purpose of bringing about that happy consummation. Air Holland, leader of the Labour Tarty, said the House was indebted to Afr Hanan for the opportunity of dis-

cussion. Afr Alassey: Waste of time. Afr Holland: You are a good judge of time-wasting. You did a guild deal : of it on the Opposition benches. A imshould not make .such an interjection when you are in danger of becoming higged in the mud of history. ! Air Holland, replying to criticisms of j the Labour Tarty, said that Air lsitt j seemed to suffer from political delirium ] tremens and novel* was able to control I himself, while Air Atmore seemed to to have let loose all the concentrated bitterness that belonged to a disappointed nature. The Hon A. Hanan said his Hill was in an awkward and embalm.—ini: position. AH Thompson: It is dead. Afr Hanan said the Bill was followed on the order paper by an electoral reform Bill, which Labour members were said to Ik> delaying by using the var- | ions means afforded by the forms ot |

(In' Hons?, nml therefore considerable discussion had taken place. It "as political humlnif' for menihei's to say they did not know the icntents of the Mil. If electoral reform was not heiiij: made •i party question why was the elective exicutivo regarded as a party matte! . The Itill^vasjaouMheJd^