Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1898. Sir Robert Stout.

Manawatu Herald, 24 October 1893, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1898. Sir Robert Stout.

Sir Robert Stout has given his first ' address to the electors of Wellington. He touched upon many questions and backed up his proposals with what appears good arguments. . .Referring to the cry raised that Party Government must be abolished, he admitted that Party Government had developed to something very different to what it was understood to be in the past. He quoted the opinion of the late Professor Hearn who wrote. '" "The principle that the confidence which Parliament reposes*- in the servants of the Crown is a confidence in their administrative, and not in their legislative powers, serves to explain a"di__ctilty whioh sometimes presents itself in our political arrangements. There 1 are sometimes questions, upon which the members of the administration, notwithstanding, their general obligation of mutual support, are •avowedly free to. act acoordiug to their individual opinions. It is therefore a matter of some importance to decide what questions ought to be thus left open, and what should; be .regarded as Ministerial. No distinct role has, so iar as land aware, been .aid down' to guide such decisions. ,But from the point of view I have-at-.tetngted/.toi indicate,- the principle seems distinct and intelligible. If a Ministry ought to resign when only it is defeated upon great administrative measures, none but measures of administration ought to be made Ministerial questions. All other questions which do not affect the Ministry as suoh, that is- which do not impede the conduot of Her Majesty's Government, should be' open. For the proper conduot of the publio service there must be amongst Ministers a general - agreement as to the manner in which that service should be carried on. As, then, no question Which is not a question of administration should be made a Ministerial question.". . Sir Robert asserted that in the colony we had. developed a dilforent 1 system and "."'" \ "Instead of declaring that a question; affected the Ministry of the day, they had ', gone to the other extreme, and held that'

■ — __ ______ every Bill that a' Minister proposed, aye, and that every member propped, (.-specially a member of the Opposition, should be made a party quesrion if a Minister ob jectecl to U, aud members were not free to vote on the merits or demerits of thai measure. That was reducing the Legislature to a mere registering machine of the Ministry of the day.*' -To remedy this evil he p.oposed that Parliament, should elect the : Executive, by billot, thus seeurin.? Ministers froine ti-n ure of oflice and affording a ehan.G of getting measures, discussed on their merits. Sit* RotK'vt would, like to see the Upper House turned into a Revising Chamber such as they had in l.'orway, bnt failing this, Suggested a plan by which in time the ' Upper chamber wou'd come under the control of the Lower House. He explained " 1 here were a certain number \Vhdad tenure would expire in 1900, and there would be in the Gext two or three years certain vacancies. Under his proposal they would have to fix the number of the Upper House at somethibg between 46 or 50, for they could not increase it very much, as the Lower House had been reduced by 20 members by the decree of the Colony, a decree he did not agree with. The number being fixed the vacancies that would occur— say in. 1897— could be filled by election, the election to be made by the House of Representatives. Let the new House elected that year fill these vacancies, giving the Legislative Councillors ft tenure of six years. In another th_e_ years; viz.. 1900, a lot move would have to be elected^ and as the life members died out the result would be they would have one half of the Council elected by the House every three years, and the result would be that they would not be blocking measures passed by the Lower House. In this way they would always have the Upper House undet* sufficient control of the Lower House, and the two Houses would be in accord and work in harmony, avoiding deadlock, and at the same time they would have a proper Revising Chamber." Sir Robert Stout advocated the extension of electoral rights to one and all. Speaking on the question of local Government he admitted that their functions must increase and not decrease.;. and the time was afc hand when local bodies would have to provide for the people's I well being in other respects, therefore they must have revenue. How it was to be obtained the speaker did not make known however. To reduce the charge for charitable aid Sir Robert would . hay. a million acres of land set apart, the revenues from which would soon find the money needed. He advocated the extension of village settlements, and the adoption of old age pensions by I a system of insurance. On education the candidate spoke with no uucertaiu found, it must be made made better, and he hoped for the clay when secondary schools and colleges would be free. He wanted a University College founded in Wel'.ingto *. On the liquor question ho \v:s veiy clear as to the right of tho people to declare what they desired, and to have power to give effect to it. The Civil Service has a friend in Sir Robert, who has apparently not viewed the past actions of the Government with favour, as he said ■ If the State was to increase its functions it must get its ablest men to perform duties in connection with it, and except it did so it only meant failure. Ho submittal that the Civil servants must not only be carefully looked after, but they must., have some status, some responsibility, and must not be dismissed 3imply because a Ministry ca'ma into office. Very fow of the fairly well-lo-do people in this Colony wished their sons to becom. Civil servants. Th'ir Civil servants should be independent of any influence, political or otherwise ; of course entrance was by examination, bui they must get some sort of stability in the service, and so provide^ that they should not be dismissed when they had been a few years in the service, and compelled to begin life anew. It is a treat to come across a political address which is not disfigured with references to the actions or sayings of past politicians. .. No doubt this speech will be well criticised and comments made on the absence of remarks on some important matters, but we have received some fresh ideas to think upon,. from the mind of a candidate who has the power and ability to give effect to them. One thing seems growing very clear, and that the' next session will nofc witness many of the present Ministers long : n ofiice ; and that probably,' if party Government is nofc afc once .made away with, it w.ll be indirectly, by the >' selection of some of the best men. oOsf s all parties, probably under Sir Robert Stout's leadership, and, mo-it likely our present member, if re-elec:ed, will be amongst them.