WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 May 1926, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

MORE ABOUT ..ORDERS-!X-CO UNCIL PAST PROTESTS. (Special to "Guardian.”) WELLINGTON, May 21. The mention, in these columns last week of the perpetuation and misuse of Orders-in-Council has not been without fruit. The “Evening Post,” which has devoted two stirring leaders to the subject, after reminding its readers of the angry protest the Reformers, during their long sojourn on the Opposition benches, made against what they called the Liberals’ usurpation of the rights and privileges .of Parliament, declares that the dominant party of to-day is a much graver offender than were Mr Seddon and his colleagues during their most arrogant days. It. lias no blame for either of the parties for what has happened, flic prostitution ol the Constitution, it seems is the fault of the war. “The formation of the National Go\ eminent.” it quotes as an example, demanded the suspension of the Legislative Council Act. which was then dividing parties, its operation was postponed to a date to he fixed by proclamation. and no date has yet been fixed. Eleven years after the Act was passed it still remains for the Government to sav whether and when a measure which is to make our Second Chamber elective instead of nominative shall come into force, a truly marvellous procedure in a democratic country.” As a matter of fact it was the one-sided character ol the Legislative Council Act which demanded its suspension during the existence of the National Council. Rut that point may he allowed to rest. ARBITRARY POWERS.

The “ Post ” is on sounder ground when it proceeds to quote two clauses from the “ Regulations,” embodied in the Board of Trade Act. which still enables the Government —no longer “ National ” —to run half the business of the country without consulting the elected representatives of the people, "ft is under this section,” it says, referring to a particular clause of the regulations, " that, with public notice and without any opportunity for the parties projudically affected to make themselves heard, the Motor Omnibus Regulations which have guide such a stir were issued a week or two ago. If they had been city by-laws a court could have said whether they wore ultra vires or unreasonable. Rut in view of the extraordinary range of clause (e) it is difficult to see what would be beyond the powers conferred by the section. All concerned must take the regulations laid down, and he thankful that under a procedure which is a travesty of justice and of democracy they are no worse!” The bus regulations, as far as the public knows, are the latest fruits of legislation by Oider-in-Council ; but they have been preceded by many other travesties of justice and of democracy which the apathy of the public and the indolence of Parliament have made possible. STILL UNREADY. The Prime Minister lias not yet found it in his heart to announce the completion of the construction'of his Cabinet. Even the newspapers have ceased making inquiries about the matter. With the puljjie Mr Coates’s reticence is the subject of many a merry jest. Tt is suggested that the .Minister in view of the straitened condition of the Treasury is anxious to defer the payment of additional salaries; that the aspirants for office are so many and the vacant seats so few that he hates to inflict disappointment upon the majority; that lie still hope's for an agreement with, the Liberals that would finally dispose of the menace of Labour and that lie is waiting for a word from Sir Francis Hell to help him out of his dilemma. Serious criticism of the delay in making the appointments is that recipients of the portfolios will have no time to make themselves familiar with

l-'.'e responsibilities tiiey imply and that permanent heads of departments arc rapidly acquiring authority which only .Ministers of the Crown should exorcise. These are valid objections to the existing state of affairs. The now Ministers already appointed. Messrs Holies-" Lon. Young and ilawken, are acquitting themselves uncommonly well; but if the Prime Ministers delays the selection of his other colleagues much longer he will leave his locum tenons, when he goes Home to the Imperial Conference, with an muliii* proportion of new hands. BIBLE ’IN SCHOOLS. The question' of Tlihle-in-Scdiools was brought up at the meeting of the Educational institute yesterday by a •motion tabled by Mr F. A. Garry affirming that Uible-rcading in schools was inadvisable. Mr li. Harrison of Auckland, was the principal speaker in the discussion that followed and appeared to express the view of the great majority of the delegates. He ihnd gone 'to school under the Bible-in-Scimols system, he said, and for that reason ho was taking his present course. He related what wont on at the school lie attended, and could only describe it as “ familiarity which brought contempt.” With hymns and the National Anthem it was the music which created the atmosphere. The atmosphere was also created by the teacher, and if those present believed they could create it then they should remember there were some five thousand more teachers in New Zealand for whom they could not speak. At the same time he believed religious instruction should tie carried out in secondary schools because the right atmosphere existed there, especially by the massing of the pupils in balls' He was proud nf tine fact that after sixty years of secular education the moral standing of New Zealanders was as 'a high’a" in any part of the world. The motion was carried by fifty-seven to nineteen.