MR STATHAM’S MOTION.

Southland Times, Issue 18859, 26 June 1920, Page 4

MR STATHAM’S MOTION.

In giving notice of his intention to put before tho House the question of the Elective Executive, though he has tacked on to (he project an idea (hat may conceal an important qualification, Mr Statham probably has little hope of success. He will probably be twitted in some places on what will be termed his method of letting (he government know' that he should have been in the Cabinet, but there can be no doubt about Mr Statham’s sincerity. It is noticeable that messages from Wellington declare (hat he was elected os a Reformer and later became an Independent, but during the contest of last December there was no room for any uncertainty' regarding his attitude. It was clear that if a trial of strength in the House would defeat the Reform Government and put in its place a parly dominated by the extreme Labour section, lie would support the government, but he was generally accepted as an Independent, as was Mr Craigie, of Timarn. The wording of Mr Statham’s notice does not reveal any new political plank in his programme. He has been a consistent advocate of the advantages of the House having a greater voice in (he personnel of the executive and this effort to put the issue before the House in its early stages is just what we have expected of him. The arguments in favour of the Elective Executive arc too well known to require repetition just now, but while strong parties continue to supply the main forces of our political scheme the result will undoubtedly be that the dominant parly in the House will determine what members shall hold portfolios. It is expected, however, that by' placing in the hands of the private members a greater power over individual ministers the rank and. file of the popular chamber of the legislature will be able, slowly' but surely to break down (he cast iron deliminations of the parties and develop in the members a great spirit of independence. The strength of (he party machine is really a thing of'recent growth. Its development can be easily traced in the House of Commons, and in all of (he countries having popular government, and it stands to reason, therefore, that it can he made subject to change, without the serious results that the opponents of the Elective Executive, delight in talking about in horrified tones. To-day', (here can lie no question of it, we are cursed with too much ■‘partyism,” and anything that can weaken the machine in politics, anything (hat can give back to the individual members the powers and independence of thought and action which they should enjoy in the interests of pure politics demands the, support of everybody who boasts of being a democrat. Wc do not expect Mr Ptatbam will induce the government to adopt the reform, but bis motion will show us how strong the party lines arc to-day and they will serve to remind members that our political system is urgently in need of attention before another election comes round.