REFORM TACTICS ARE CRITICISED

Hokitika Guardian, 29 August 1929, Page 2

REFORM TACTICS ARE CRITICISED

NO-CONFIDENCE MOTION HOLDS UP BUSINESS.

(Written for the Christchurch “ Star ” by E. J. HOWARD, M.P.)

At the time of writing this article there has just been sprung.on Parliament a no-confidence motion by the Leader of the Opposition. The effect of one of these motions in a House constituted such as ours is at present, is to Hold up all other business.

When we refer to Parliament, as a rule, it is referred to in the same terms as a sailor would refer to his ship. As a fact, there are hundreds of nautical terms used in connection with Parliament. Hardly a debate takes place, scarcely a speech is made, but what some sailor’s term is introduced.' They refer to the “ ship of State,” and to keeping hgr on an even keel, and it was a popular saying of our late Minister of Lands, ‘ speaking full and bye,” The latter term will be well known to sailors and especially, to the “windjammer.” That word “ windjammer ” is an expression used to denote another phase of the same method of sailing direction. In relieving the watch, the officer going off .duty in a ship closehauled to the wind may instruct his relief to keep her hard up to the wind, or he may say, “ keep her full and bye” meaning to keep her close to the wind but with her sails full. Then again, we .often, hear the expression

“steering a- safe course,” or “deserting a sinking ship,” and so on. Our Parliamentary members use more nautical terms than will he heard in other parliaments, and that may be owing to the fact that no part of-New Zealand is far from the sea. There are very tew people in New Zealand that have never seen the sea. Well, Parliament may well be described as a ship because things work in a way like they do on a ship. That is to say, it is popular to poke fun at Parliament and say the members only talk. But if persons were travelling from New Zealand to England on a ship they could talk, and talk, and talk, and so long as the engines were going and the man oil .the bridge knew his course, no harm would come from talking. .

THE PEOPLE’S WILL. /

'The British Parliamentary’ system is that in theory all the people come together to discuss the things that they desire done. The rule of the road, for instance, is only an agreement that we will observe order' instead of jostling each other. The basis of all dur, laws is the consent of the people / to. obey the laws.' Now all the,' people cannot come together in council and conference, so under our system the people elect individuals to represent them.

It stands to reason that there are some times when all. of the people are not represented, but Parliament would not dare to write a law .that the majority of the people actively. disagreed with. A “no-confidence” motion is then, that in the opinion of the mover the people have lost confidence in those elected to govern in the Government. So each representative must now search his mind and ask himself if those he represents have lost faith in the Government, and act accordingly.

The Labour Party during the past nine years have tabled many of these motions. Those motions did not delay the work of the ship because never at any time was there any doubt as to the results of the motion. Reform had a majority ■, large enough to defy any other party. Then for thirteen years the Liberals, under various names, occupied the Opposition benches. Then by a turn of the wheel Labour became the official Opposition, and in three years they were able to prove that Reform was mismanaging the affairs of the ship of State, and the people dedecided to remove Reform. But owing to the fact that Sir Joseph Ward had been able to fire the imagination of those in want of money as to the possibilities of his being able to get loads of it, and with his past experience and prestige, the people 'decided to give this veteran a chance. The result was that three parties were returned in almost equal mincers. This complicated things in many ways. And it manifests itself in a “no-confidence” motion more than it would during the past nine years.

UNFAIR, DELAY. The Government does not know whether it is going out of office or not. There is more than a chance that they will be defeated. They know themselves that there is a. great possibility of their being defeated, consequent! all administrative work is suspended. This is the first time that a crisis has arisen like this during the past ten years. The Leader of the Opposition cannot be congratulated on his tactics. The Budget debate has been going on for a fortnight. At any time he could have tallied his motion. At no time have the conditions altered since tlm first reading of the Budget. Fifty-odd members have delivered their full hour addresses. This motion will open up the flood gates again and the fifty members plus the other thirty can now talk for another eighty hours. Whilst the ship of state has been going ahead, administrative work being carried out, committees meeting and so on, all that must be suspended now. until the fate of the Government, is known. It is unkind to the Dominion

to have held back that no-confidence motion to such a late date. Every member must be a judgu of his own conduct in politics and every leader must weigh the effect of his conduct on others. Reform have been unfair 'to allow so many weeks to elapse before launching their “ try-on.” But that was the principal fault with “ Reform ” when they were in office. They never did consider the interests of the great bulk of the people. They are now only considering the interest of a very small section of the people.

LABOUR’S OUTLOOK

Tt would be wrong for this writer to say what is going to happen. This article must necessarily be written three days before it appears in print. The Labour Party have not yet met to decide their attitude. Labour is in a restless mood. The members feel that the “Uniteds” have not made atiy attempt to put their platform into operation. Then the Labour Party do not like the imposition of the primage duty increase. They are opposed to it on principle. But the Leader of the Opposition has worded his motion in such a way that Labour could not support tlie majority of it. On the other hand, the Labour Party may decided to move an amendment to the rnctien. Reform wants to punish the Uniteds and so Reform may vote with Labour. And further Reform may decide to recommend that Mr Holland should be sept for. That would put “Labour” in a most intolerable position. because they would not consent to be in office without any power. But that possibility is there. Whilst there is no more * difference between the Uniteds and Reform than tiiere could be ingicla of either of those .parties, there is a- good deal of personal dislike between individuals of those parties.

“MISSES THE GLARE.” The Leader of the Opposition is like one of our “movie” stars, or like the leading lady in a travelling show. He has been so long in the limelight that he misses the glare. He has enjojusd the sweets of office so long that lie feels the Fss of them. He is as sensitive of criticism as a mother of her first baby. So that whilst he doesn’t fundamentally differ with the United Party he is feeling- hurt at being displaced . The iiext month should he very interesting in politics. It may mean an election. But it is wrong to suppose that Sir Joseph Ward can force an election if ho likes. He cannot do that. It rests with the GovernorGeneral, but the Governor-General, would have to explore all tlie possibilities of one of the other parties being able to carry on. Whilst Labour could not support Reform, Reform may elect to support Labour. There is that possibility. So those who take a keen interest in these matters should watch-.the-.-.question closely. I hinted in a previous article that it was coming, so that readers of this family journal will not he surprised.