FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1880. HOW TO WORK OUR REPRESEN TATIVE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 43, 23 January 1880, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1880. HOW TO WORK OUR REPRESEN TATIVE.

It was predicted, as one of the evils inseparable from the abolition of Provincialism, that tha sessions of Parliament would be greatly lengthened by the introduction of parish business into the Lower House. The prediction has proved literally true, for the amount of time occupied each session in discussing matters of local importance is enormous. This is the inevitable outcome of our present constitution, which is essentially decentralising in its character, and which provides for no body between the County Councils and Parliament. So far as Parliamentary government is concerned, we believe New Zealand is as far advanced as any other country in the world, but the question is, are we reaping the whole of the advantages of our system ? Good our machinery undoubtedly is, yet we think a little consideration will show that we are not extracting the best possible results from it, but rather presuming upon its excellence. There is an unwritten law which is engraved upon the foundations of our system of government, that every Minister of the Crown should be at all times accessible to citizens who desire to bring under his notice matters of either colonial or local interest connected with his department. Out of this idea deputations have grown, but we think no one would deny that the number of deputations Ministers have to endure during Parliament is calculated very seriously to affect their success in governing the country. To devise a policy calculated to meet the financial condition of the country, would at any time tax the concentrated energies of a statesman, but besides the work in Parliament, including attendance on Committees, each Minister has the ordinary work of his department to look after. If, in addition to these weightier matters of State, he has to pay attention to the thousand and one special matters brought under his notice during the session by deputation, by resolutions of public meetings, or through the member, the life of a Minister during Parliament must be one of unceasing worry . The mind of a Minister should during the session be free to deal with the measures to be brought before Parliament. Only thus can our legislation be of the thorough character desirable. When we consider the infinite number of calls made upon the attention of Ministers during Parliament, we cease to wonder that our legislation is so fragmentary and patchy; we rather wonder the Bills are so complete, when laid upon the table. So far as the the members are concerned matters are almost as bad. During the session they are pestered with trumpery matters that might have been attended to during the recess. By telegrams, by letters, hi personal interviews, they are asked to bring this vote under the notice of the Government, to ask for a railway station at that point, to get a money order office opened at some obscure township, and of course the obedient member, fearful lest his constituents should be dissatisfied at his apparent inattention, badgers Ministers privately, asks questions in the House, and uses every effort to obtain the wished for boon. Now this course is unfair to the member, who is asked to attempt an almost impossible task, and leads to a great loss of time in Parliament. Three-fifths of the questions asked there would be far better answered if they were asked before the session began, numbers being replied to indefinitely with a curt, " The subject will be enquired into," and costly time is lost. The true secret of of conducting business successfully is to inform the representative during the recess of all that is necessary in the district, and let him lay before the Government all the information he possesses. As a contemporary remarks — "It is "while measures involving administrative details are in actual preparation that it actually helps the Government to afford it precise information of what is really wanted to carry out this or that part of the scheme, or how the general plan may be judiciously modified to suit the special wants of this or that locality." We are convinced that during the recess is the period for most successfully " working " a member of Parliament. ' ' Jf it be a matter requiring administrative treatment he can represent the case to the Government at full leisure to give it the necessary attention. If it be of a kind requiring legislation, the necessary Bill, or perhaps the necessary clauses to be

'inserted in fi Bill, can bo prepared ! and thoroughly considered before tho Government or tho House has to bo troubled with them. In both cases it will bo soon that the probabilities of success are greater, and the trouble taken really loss on all sides than is possible under tho existing practice. Half tho time at 'present occupied in Wellington is really taken up wifcli the labour of finding out what it is that is wanted to bo done." One most important means by which members could gain information as to the wants of their constituents would bo by interviewing the local bodies in their districts. The practice of mooting their constituents after tho session docs little good. If it wore reversed, and a conference took place between the member and delegates from all governing bodies in the district, we believe excellent results wo.uld accrue. We have an excellent system, but at present the constituencies and tho representatives err in trying to cram a year's work into the space of two or three months. Ministers are human, and cannot perform an infinite amount of work, neither can representatives. It is to be hoped the people of this Colony will in time learn the advisability of refraining from a course of action which is exceedingly costly, in lengthening unduly the session, and which prevents the Government bostowing full attention upon the measures submitted to the people.