POWER LOST

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 348, 8 October 1932, Page 5

POWER LOST

("Post" Special Commissioner.) |

THE OPPOSITION PRESTIGE OF PARLIAMENT ON THE WANE SAYS MEMBER "AN ARRESTING SPEECH .

Wellington, Friday. j Doubt as to whether it was yery j much use members of the Opposi- S tion paying attention to their duties was expressed in the House of Representatives this afternoon by Mr. H,. M. Rushworth (Country ; Party, Bay of Islands). The powers I j of the Opposition had gradually j i been ta&en away and now they had j I even been deprived of the power 1 to obstruct, Mr. Rushworth said. ! | It was a most regrettahle fact that 1 i th'3 prestige of Parliament was not ; ! high in public opinion. i "I think that loss of prestige is J j due to the fact that this institution ! I is becoming* ineffective or not sufficij ently effieient," said Mr. Rushworth. ! "There appears to be a fairly general j idea that the efficiency of Parliament j depends on a strong, stable Governl ment. That. I think, is a mistake and ! it has been made hy ocher countries j as well. I suggest for the considera- , tion of members that efficiency of Farliamentary control really lies in effeetive opposition. At present, the Opposition has practically no power at all. The last remaining power, the somewhat childish oue of obstruction, has been taken away by the application of the elosure. The problem is this; we must bjT some means or other restore some power so as to create an effeetive Opposition oi* we must seek for some other means of governing than this institution. Members of the Opposition must rcalise, as I do, that it is almost a waste of time for us to attend the House. Imporvioas to Argument "We know that members of the Government are impervious to any argument. It must be so. Here we find one overridden jvlodge that makes them impervious to argument. When they beccme car.didates for Parliamentary honours, they are compelled to pledge themselves to support this cr that party in a matter of no-eon-fidence and we know that practically everj- measure that the Covernnienfc briugs forward is a matter of noconfidence. Either opcnly or quietlv the whips are put on. When a member has pledgod himself to a contrarv

opinion, he is whlppcd into line by tho application of this no-confidence touch. Y/e have seen many members put into mcst dinicult positions hccauae of the overriding pledge that he has given." Ilr. R. A. Wright (Govt. Well'ngton Suburbs): What is the remedy? Mr. Rushworth: I am not suggesting any remedy beyond this. I think it is essential for the effieient working of this institution that some power should be restored to the Opposition to malce' opposition effeetive.