PARTY SYSTEM

Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1930, Page 8

PARTY SYSTEM

PUBLIC POLICY AND THE PEOPLE. i’PiOLESSOR- HUNTER CRITICISES PARLIAMENT. WELLINGTON, May 13. The original purpos oof Parliament had been to provide the means of the expression of the will of the people, and to enable them to direct public policy, but it was difficult to imagine anyone to-day devising the present system ol Parliamentary government, based on the Party system, as a method of obtaining that end, said Professor T. A. Hunter last night, in introducing a criticism of Parliament in the course of an address on “Institutions Social and AntLSocials’ before a meeting of the Australian Association of Psychology and Philosophy. “Under the present system,” lie said “the great mass of the people have no part to play in the vital thing of government, which are in the hands of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in the House, and in those of the Party management in the electorate. The whole of our Parliamentary institutions bear evidence of their source and the con"igt that is embodied in the Party systems. Each new class as it came into being desired to take part in the direction and control of the life of its •numbers it tried to make itself articilate in Parliament, hut found thate un -vi r system it could do so only bv -ontinuntion and compromise with the Id established Parities. “The idea that underlies our Parliamentary system is the same as that which we find in law, that truth emerg--s in the conflict of Parties. If there he wo Parties with programmes, the more worthy is that which wins. We ihould remember, however, that dead causes, like dead men tell no tales Higler the present conditions the tenlency is for the men to give up seeking for the true solution of social probns, and to join themselves to big t vlions that may forward their in- ■ rests. This tendency is strengthen* 1 by man’s gregarious instinct, by : s self-feeling, by his tribal history •md by his desire for plunder. These vils are increased when there are more >n two Parties, because in that case '<-> Party that holds the balance of newer exercises authority without re* ponsibility. “Tbe story is told of one McCurdy ■’’o. when the question otf women’s nfferage came before the House of oinmons in 1911, and the Party Whi ■ icing for the time out of action, am members left to their own judgement aid ‘This is the first time in our Par imentnry life that anyone of us is freo use his own judgment. No wonder we are embarrassed; the faculty of judgment has atrophied.’ “ To give an elector a vote and then require that he exercise it in favour of-a small number of candidates selecti, by the Party leaders, to promote ;i system that practically precludes the possibility of men standing as candilates unless they are preared not only 'o affiliate themselves to one df tlm Parties of th edav, but also to suborbmte their judgment on matters of great social moment to thate of a Party chose efforts may be directed not to he welfare of the community, but to the preservation of office and its emolunents, for the members of the Party .eems most cunningly designed to preent any real direction of public policy ' v the people. Further, the system of ’arty Government within the House is ■ most effective method for preventing a free expression and a'lfree vote in natters of public import. “Surely the time is overdue for an ntejligent remodelling of the Parlianentarv system? When that day lawns the insane policy of legislation - exhaustion will also come to an ml.”