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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 75

Preface

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Preface.

This pamphlet was intended for a second edition of "The Case Against Party Government" (published in 1891); but as it has grown to twice its original size, and is quite altered in arrangement, I have thought it better to Issue it as—what it practically is—a new publication. Although written last year, before the General Election, only a few verbal alterations were necessary to bring it up to date; but the form of its original publication—in instalments—must be my excuse for any repetitions which may be noticed. The whole subject has been treated, as far as possible, from the point of view of general principles, particular instances of the effects of the Party System being given only when necessary for purposes of illustration and explanation. To have enumerated and described in detail a tithe of the political improprieties, even of the last few years, would have necessitated a lengthy and wearisome treatise. Such a task is, moreover, unnecessary, as my intelligent readers can supply their own instances ad nauseam from their own observation, or from their study of Hansard and the daily Press.

Six years ago Party Government had been developed sufficiently in New Zealand to draw general attention to its absurdities and immoralities, and to bring its abolition "within the scope of practical politics." Sow, however, the position is a very different one. In the able hands of the Hon. Mr. Seddon (an almost ideal Premier for a perfected Party system) the inevitable development has been so rapid that reform has become the most urgent necessity, for every step deeper into the mire Bakes recovery so much the more difficult, if not doubtful. It is not too much to say that the political doings and sayings of the last six years lave lowered the whole moral level of the community to an alarming extent, and have vastly increased the general cynicism and flippancy of tone about political matters, which is one of the most dangerous of symptoms in a Democracy.

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At the last General Election commendable efforts were made, in Dunedin and elsewhere, to secure a better class of representatives for the House, and in some cases these efforts were crowned with success. I have, however, written to little purpose if I have not shown that these good results can be but temporary and ineffective; that honest and upright politicians, while in Opposition, can be but a very feeble check on a Party Ministry; and that, even should some accident enable them to obtain the support of a majority, they would be quite unable to retain office unless they condescended to adopt the crooked and corrupt customs of their predecessors. So great is the advantage the Part? system gives to the astute and unprincipled party organiser. It is not that the people of New Zealand love to have it so. Other things being equal, they would much prefer an honest Government and intelligent representatives. Hut other things are not equal; and when a man's "bread and butter" depend on his support of a party, or on the favour of a Ministry, or when he believes that they may at some future time so depend, he must needs be singularly conscientious and patriotic to ignore the fact.

In scores of speeches before the late election the evils of Party Government were dilated upon by honestly indignant candidates; but it was generally overlooked that so long as the causes are left untouched, declamation about the effects is idle. To blame machinery for not doing work for which it was never suited is mere waste of time. In the following pages an attempt has been made to diagnose carefully the disease from which democratic politics is suffering, and to point out the only remedy. If any of the politicians, and of the people, who have not considered the matter should be induced by my arguments to study it seriously for themselves, the attempt will not have been made in vain. I have little doubt as to the conclusions at which they will arrive. Hitherto, although the disease has been very generally acknowledged, no other cure has been suggested, and any criticism of the real remedy has been merely superficial and trivial. Any thorough criticism that may occur to any of my readers will be thankfully received by

The Author. Dunedin,