Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1905. A PLEA FOR QUADRENNIAL PARLIAMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3519, 9 May 1905, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 9, 1905. A PLEA FOR QUADRENNIAL PARLIAMENTS.

In the “ Positivist Review ” for March Mr Frederick Harrison pnplishes a plea for Quadrennial Parliaments: — The most striking facts in the political levHopment of our constitution within the last two generations have been : 1, the increased influence of the Crown ; 2, the revival of the House of Lords as a blocking power; 3, the dwindling authority and prestige of the House of Commons. As to the Crown, its subtle and intangible power has of late been exerted uniformly for goad public ends, without at all infringing on the constitutional duty of impartiality and non-interference. The House of Lords has developed from being a check or drag upon popular reforms into acquiring a right of final closure, with an absolute veto upon all legislation which is not approve 1 by the privileged classes. The House of Lords has become the Council of Ten in our Venetian Constitution. Why this great reversal in the traditions of our constitution ? Obviously, it has been brought about by the decay of the House of Commons ; its loss of real authority, of public credit, of self-respect. The Commons have become the tool, the lackey, almost the butt of the Ministry We are fast coming to see the merits of a fixed Quadrennial term to Parliaments ; not, of course, exclusive of even earlier dissolutions. A House of Commons which has never represented the nation, except in an hour of warlike “ mafficking,” which depends, not on its constituents, but on its special caucus, which is careless of public opinion, and which free public opinion cannot reach, such a House is naturally tempted to regard itself as invested with permanent, at least, with long-continued, power. A House which comes to regard itself as an office to register the mandates of government should at most be trusted for three or four years, and yet be liable to be dissolved at any time, as at present.