DEGRADATION OF PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2912, 21 July 1925, Page 4

DEGRADATION OF PARLIAMENT.

BAB THING FOR DEMOCRACY.

The people of this Dominion pride themselves on the fact that this is a democratic State. In general they reject the idea of dictatorship and class rule. Seeking rather, to translate into practice the words of Abraham Lincoln’s famous formula: — “Government of the people, for the people and by the people.” It is a beautiful ideal provided always that the people themselves are worthy.

Our democracy, such as it is, rests on the basis of our representative institutions. In general we think it is true that the people get what they ask for in the way of representation. S' through apathy or indifference they consent to mediocrity, vulgarity, bombast and petty cunning, then such becomes the standard of which their representation is made.

To keep our democracy clean and high it is not a mere matter of voting systems. The question of habits, customs and manners is involved. For this reason it is well to review from time to time the standard of practice displayed by our representative public bodies. Whilst these are a reflex' of the people, they also establish standards which the people are prone to copy. Of public bodies Parliament comes first. Its procedure is often jrresented as the model copy. Particularly is it thus presented to college students and young men and women who are. seeking examples of what should be followed in debate, reasoning and the conduct of public affairs.

A test of Parliament, then, may he put in the query—is it fit to stand as an example to the youths who are growing up into the citizenship of to-morrow? In some countries in Europe tire Parliaments so signally failed in that and other practical tests, as to place them in the dock and on their trial hy the very people who created them. Mussolini has been condemned for over ruling Parliamentary government in Ifalv. ITis plea is that Parliament did not. govern but by its weakness allowed widespread misgovernment within the State. Those who want to maintain democracy have a duty on them to see that democracy is in all respects higher and not lower than the order it supersedes. What shall we say of our Parliament? It lias recently been giving an exhibition. The occasion is called the Address in Reply debate. Much that, transpired might be truly presented as a most perfect example of how not to debate; indeed, it is only a courtesy that could define such stupid wrangling as debate at all. If the indulgence in abuse, personalities and terms of offence were followed in public meetings of ordinary citizens as it has taken place in Parliament, the result would probably lead to breaches of ihe peace. To call th(‘ other side “Lu'ii-Coates” (supposed wit), crawling worms, sneaks, or liken another speaker to mud is something of the style which has actually been used by some members of Parliament lids Session. Surely such antics are really a degradation of the high institution of Parliament. Men elected to serve the people, and paid to do so, are expected to have some dignity or at least be above the standard of a hoodlum whose plain speech is simply disgusting to people of any taste because of its abusive, vulgar and inane character. That Parliamentary manners are becoming of a lower order may appear of no importance to some people, but indeed the wrong being done in this way is many sided. It is gross waste of time and money, degrading public taste and vitiating the intelligence of the people by preventing rational discussions of public questions. It is a wonder that those in tlie strangers’ gallery do not interject “talk politics” as a protest against the constant indulgence in personalities which we hear in our Parliament.

The slum style of speech of “you’re an ass” and “you’re another” murks the standard which some M.’sP. have been setting recently. It is not public questions that are being discussed, hut persons, persons, until citizens get sick of hearing or reading it. For the sake of our democracy (which should he kept clean in manners as well as morals) we protest ns many other citizens do, against the senseless waste of time and lowering of Parliamentary tone that is in evidence far too frequently in these days. (Contributed by the N.Z. Welfare League).