DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.
MR. lIANAN AND THE REFERENDUM. Mr. J. Hanan, M.P., has borne interesting remarks to make on the political situation, which he regards as one of such confusion that some remedies are required before order and efficiency can be restored (says the Dunedin tSar). Mr. Hanan claims to be an advocate of non-party government, but admits that such an ideal is almost impossible of attainment, or, at least, of anything like permanent maintenance if achieved momentarily by an unlikely combination of chances. As a democrat, however, he dislikes the idea or minority rule, and he claims that with the Massey Government in power this obtains now in New Zealand. He believes that a general election would bring defeat to the Government. In any case, he claims that it is the proper solution for the existing position. The problem is how to bring one about constitutionally. He asserts that the people should have the right to demand one. In other words, he is an advocate of the Initiative and Referendum—an amendment which the Fisher Government are seeking to have made in the Commonwealth Constitution. That is to say, on a required number of clect- ' ors signing a petition to Parliament praying that a definite issue be submitted to a referendum of the people it shall be obligatory oil the Government to take such a. referendum and immediately give legislative effect to the wish of the people as disclosed by its result. , Th'is, says Mr. Hanan, would be true democratic government, which he argues we do not at present enjoy in tlie proper sense of the word. Popular control, as exercised through the medium of the people's representatives ill Parliament, has, he says, proved more or less of a myth because of the system of party government and the sacrifice of principle to party which it so often entails, and because also of the various compromises to which members have so frequently to resort to placate different sections of their constituents. The direct mandate which the referendum would give to Parliament would give members a plain lead as to their path of duty, continued Mr. Hanan, and would straighten out complexities as multifarious as they are, under the existing conditions, unavoidable. If such a question as the raising of a loan by a local body must be summitted to the electors for their approval, why not apply the same principle to the raising of a national loan, or the Bible-in-schools, or the desirability of holding a general, election? And accompanying the Initiative and Referendum Mr. Hanan would like to see the . system of preferential voting oust our present system, with its unsatisfactory second ballot. Mr. Hanan believes that the effect of these reforms would be to minimise bargaining between candidates and strong minority sections of the constituents, who would thus be absolutely free to assist,to put into legislative form the dictates expressed by the people by referendum. He intends between now and the meeting of Parliament to endeavor to'focus public opinion on these matters, and in Parliament he will give these reforms as much prominence its is possiblfe to a private: member. And he is not, without hope that ultimately the people will exercise absolute and continuous control of their affairs. "The only time they have anything like control is atelection time. Their choice once made, they go to sleep until next election, or if they keep close watch on their representatives in between they find them- 1 selves powerless to intervene when inter* vention seems necessary." Another matter Mr. Hanan intends tp bring up next session is the "Southland lease" affair. He declares that legul opinion strongly inclines to the view that if Mr. Gavin Brighton were to appeal against Mr. Justice Williams' decision he would have a, good chance of having it reversed, and so secure the fee-simple over the mineral rights of his converted leasehold, as well as over the surface rights. In any case, said Mr. Hanan, it will bo very interesting to see whether Mr. Massey will safeguard the State by amending this section of our land law so as to leave 110 room for doubting the validity and finality of its recent inter- j pretation.
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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 292, 2 May 1913, Page 7
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700DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT. Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 292, 2 May 1913, Page 7
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