CURRENT TOPICS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 32, 27 June 1914, Page 4

CURRENT TOPICS.

DEGENERATION OF PARLIAMENT. Government by Parliament lias degenerated into Government by Party, and this again into government by Cabinet. to be further resolved into government by a single person—by Masses or Ward —an alternative despotism, tempered by abuse and vilification from the other side of the House. Why does the country not demand the abolition of this system? Is there any reason why Ministers could not be elected by the House at the opening of each Parliament for the term of that Parliament—that is for three years—such Ministers to appoint their own chairman or president? That would mean at once sudden death to the Cabinet system, to "collective responsibility," to "policy measures,'' and all the rest of the fantastic and

fautous humbug that now obtains. Parliament would then be a business assembly; and the time now spent in trying to degrade the Government in the eyes of the country would be saved, and Ministers, freed from having to light for their lives and reputations every day, would be able to devote their time to their various departments, and the House and not the Government

would then be responsible for legislation. There is, indeed no end to the collateral reforms that would follow the death of the party system, for the people's representatives , would then be at liberty to consider. the welfare of their country instead of the welfare of their party, and Ministers would then be really Ministers, and not, as at present, masters of the House.—Waimate Witness.