TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENTS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5354, 25 May 1878, Page 2

TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENTS.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. Sib, —While oue of my great weaknesses is that of being over credulous, yet I must confess to a tinge of scepticism as to the sincerity of our public men—whether, at present ini Parliament, or seeking Parliamentary honors —in their advocacy of triennial, or three-year Parliaments, as against that of the present quinquennial,'or five years’ duration. I am confirmed in this conviction by the entire absence of any sufficient reason Being giveh by them for the change, and cannot but regard their utterances: on the subject as a speoies. of pandering to what they believe to be the popular sentiment,: rather than as arising from any strong conviction of • its public utility. The only reason' approaching anything like validity for such a change .Is; the possibility of a member, from a change mhia own opinions, or in the opinions of his constituents!, ceasing to represent the general views of those who elected him. Hence the possible ts\ il of:a member misrepresenting his constituents for so long a period as five, years. But such a slate of things can be provided against by a far more direct, expeditious,, and simple method than by a general appeal to the country every throe years, viz., by the* passing of a simple Act providing that on the petition of a certain per, centage of any constituency to. the, Government such member shall, be called ■ upon to resign - his seat, with the option - of* -appealing afaesh to the electors. ■ • ■ - ■

This would place members far more distinctly under the control of their constituents, and thereby secure to the people all and far more than -can possibly be by the shortening of the duration of Parliaments, and save the country from being more frequently than at present embroiled in the excitement of general elections. One of the great aims of our Government, as the head of a democratic community,’ should in my opinion be to secure , to the people ; the greatest of control over their public men and public affairs in general, with a reasonable interval between general elections. A too frequent general election is not only an additional drain on. State ’ funds) and the source of considerableexpense and loss of time to both elected and electors, but it is notorious, as a matter of history, that its tendency is to shako the stability of public institutions, by -introducing an undue number of inexperienced men into the administration of public affairs. Another evil is, that it tends so to wearymany of the more able and experienced public men that they withdraw altogether from thie conflict, and leave the field in possession of the more ambitious, but less experienced and able administrators, for whose inexperience and inefficiency the public have to pay and suffer. Whilst X am a democrat of the most pronounced type, and accept moat loyally the sovereignty of the people, I fail altogether to discover that the shortening the ‘duration of our Parliament would secure any powers or privileges to the people that would not be far better secured by the adoption of the suggestion I have made, while I see plainly its tendency would be in the direction of assisting in the production of the evils to which I have referred. —lam, &c.,Wellington, May 24. Q.