The Daily News. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1917. PARLIAMENT 'LOSING ITS RIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1917. PARLIAMENT 'LOSING ITS RIGHTS.

Government by the people, for the people used to be considered as the dominant factor in New Zealand politics, Imt that was in pre-war times when an Opposition was able to keep a check on Ministers and prevent them from whittling away the privileges of the people's representatives. Of late years, and more especially during the war, the. tendency to govern by means of regulations and not by legislation has grown beyond all bounds, as is generally the case svitn bad habits and practices. It is therefore very refreshing to find that at least one member of the House has raised his voice against this pernicious system. Last week Mr. H. Poland, the member for Ohinemuri, delivered one of the most vigorous protests that have yet been mado in Parliament against the disposition of the National Government to arrogate to themselves too much power and to encroach upon the prerogatives of tho people's representatives. New Zealand is no longer governed by Parliament but ,- a Cabinet Regency, and Parliament is becoming a mere machine for carrying out the will of the Ministry instead of tho Administration Deing the machinery for carrying out the will of the people as expressed by their representatives, and tho strange part of this Humiliating position is that members have tacitly acquiesced in the usurpation of their power. The public has submitted to a great deal of control by legislation partly because it has a disinclination to harass Ministers or members, and more particularly owing to its having no choice, especially in war time when a party truce has ibeen entered into with the object of concentrating on the one great absorbing duty—the prosecution of the war. Ministers know this. They also know that under this truce a general election would be a farce because the country has no choice, but to allow the Government of the country to remain in the hands of the Coalition. Instead of this tending to inspire Ministers with a fitting sense of the trust reposed in them, it has caused them to take an exaggerated view of their power, with the result that government by regulation has become a menace to the people and a danger to the State. Never before in the course of the history of the . New Zealand Parliament has it become, j so necessary to insist on this intolerable evil being eliminated as is the case at ' present.' It is the duty of the House to clearly define all legislation and not ; leave details to be filled,, in from time ' to time at tho caprice of Ministers. The ; people's representatives are sent to Par- i liament to make laws, and not to frame ' skeletons, and if they allow their duties , and privileges to be taken out of their ( hands by Ministers they are betraying a. ' trust thut is - regarded as a prepious " heritage of which postoritv should not be f robbed. It is quite time to cry a halt « in this objectionable practice of govern ( ment by regulation, and members should , assert their power of control before it , is too late. <