THE Kaipara Advertiser. AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 2, 1912.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 9 October 1912, Page 2

THE Kaipara Advertiser. AND WAITEMATA CHRONICLE. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 2, 1912.

LOOK WELL BEFORE. TWO events Parliamentary of the week call for more than passing attention. (1). It has transpired that the Public Service Bill is proposing to substitute the Commissioner of the Service for the Cabinet in all business of the service. (2). It is beginning to be understood that if the proportional system is granted to the Second Chamber without the First, that the former will be more truly representative than the representative house itself and therefore more powerful at, the outset, or certain to become so eventually. Regarding the first, the Commissioner, according to the explanation of Mr Bell in the Council, is substituted for Minister, as the responsible adviser whom His Excellency is compelled to obey. Now it has been asked what authority is there in the constitution by which the function of responsibly advising the Crown, may be transferred from representative men possessing the confidence of the representatives, to persons not representatives and quite unable to obtain the confidence of the representatives ? To which it is replied that the Constitution Act contains nothing about responsible government. To that in its turn the reply is that the Constitution Act does not contain the whole constitution, but that much is prescriptive traditionary, and of the user. Suppose the Governor were to refuse to take advice from the Commissioner of the service, what then ? . How would he be compelled? This important question, we understand, divides the Cabinet, some holding as above with Mr Bell, others with Mr Herdman that" Governor" in the Bill always means " Governor-in-Council "; that is that when the Commissioner recommends anything the Government must also recommend it to the Governor before he can act. It is, in fact, whether there is to be obedience to Parliament or independence. We think every man if polled, would be against the total independence against Parliament. A simple amendment would settle the matter definitely in the right direction. As to the superior powers likely to be granted to the Legislative Council, that is a point about which the public ought to bestir itself quickly, or there may be great trouble between the two houses in the future. As Sir Joseph said during Friday's debate, Deadlock will not be a name for the relations between them.