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Taranaki Daily News, 17 April 1918, Page 4

THIC LIFE OF PARLIAMENT. On Saturday members of Parliament voted themselves another year of political life. They had previously extended the term by a year, so that the present Parliament will have a five rears' life. The Government's proposal was carried, bv a two to one majority, and doubtless the critical state of affairs at the front was mainly responsible for the decisive nature of the voting. At least that will no doubt he put forward as a justification for taking what is an unprecedented and extreme step. It is perhaps only natural for members to show a disinclination to face an flection and to choose the line of ledst) resistance. Under any othar circumstances it "would have been not only desirable, but absolutely essential to the welfare of the Dominion that the public should have the opportunity of passing judgment on the members individually and the policy of the Cabinet generally, but the war lia.B compelled us to make great sacrifices, not the least of which is having to put up with a spineless Parliament and a mediocre Cabinet for a long term. There is, however, much force in the argument that in six months time the war crisis will have passed—at least let us sincerely hope so—and the public could then exercise their constitutional prerogative under normal conditions. It lias been urged that it would he "unfair to hold the elections whilst so many of our men are away at the front, but their votes could be recorded in the same way as were those of the men of Canada and Australia recently. Both of these countries have not allowed the war to interfere with the elections. It is really more necessary in time of crisis like the present for the constituencies to be consulted regarding the policies of the Government and the work of their representatives, as the times call for the ablest men in the community—the wisest counsels, the most alert brains. Without seeking to cast any reflections on the personnel of Parliament, it can be truthfully maintained that Parliament as constituted to-day does not as a whole possess these necessary attributes. This is perhaps the fault of the system of election and the miserable salaries paid to members. The youngest and brightest men do not as a rule seek to enter politics, because in the first place the men that control the party machines prefer compliance and mediocrity to inf' tiative and resource, and in the second place few of the desirable men can afford to give up their careers and prospects for a life of impecuniosity. Hence we have in Parliament to-day a majority of men of above middle age and to a large extent out of touch with the requirements and aspirations of the public. However, history is rapidly being made these days, and people's ideas are undergoing changes in respect to politics as on other matters, and it is likely they will insist in the near future upon the ablest men in the community acting as their representatives and be prepared to pay them adequate salaries. It is true that in Great Britain there has been no general election since the outbreak of war. It is a pity New Zealand did not follow the example set by England and call to its political counsels the best available talent. Since the war New Zealand politicians have acted on the principle that they have a monopoly of talent in Parliament and that there is no reason for calling in outside assistance, and they show no disposition to alter that complacent state of mind.