Land Problems and National Welfare 



nents give as the ostensible reason for its un- 

 desirability the condition of things in those 

 Parliaments abroad where the group system 

 has become a recognised method of government; 

 and from this point of view the group system 

 can be shown to have many disadvantages. 

 But why should we take any foreign method as 

 the standard for emulation ? I have sufficient 

 faith in the good sense and freedom from panic 

 of the average Britisher to believe that under 

 the group system he will act in the way that 

 will be best for the country as a whole. 



The Morning Post, on 6th January, 1908, 

 referring to the autocratic action of the present 

 Government with regard to the " guillotining " 

 methods of last Session, said : 



" Was ever a House of Commons since Cromwell's day 

 treated so autocratically ? Of course, it may be said that 

 the majority of the House is to blame for tolerating such 

 treatment. Obviously it is, but Party loyalty is carried 

 very far in these days." 



It is indeed — carried so far that the rights and 

 privileges of private members were practically 

 extinguished by Mr. Balfour, with his followers' 

 consent, during his last administration. The 

 reason why Members of Parliament do not 

 occupy the same position as formerly in the 

 minds of the public is entirely due to this fact. 

 The man in the street recognises that the 

 individual M.P. has become a mere pawn in 



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