THE INSENSATE " PAKTY " SYSTEM IN PARLIAMENT 231 



system and a necessary one, and nobody objects to it in principle. 

 Theoretically, it is sound enough, but in practice it has proved 

 to be impossible, and fatal in its effects. 



One has but to examine the Statute Book for the last 

 twenty years to understand liow l)are it is of really useful 

 Acts ; how devoid it is of that series of splendid legislative 

 enactments which should stand forth as national achievements 

 bearing tlie impress of great minds, which, moved thereto by 

 loyalty and patriotism and an earnest desire to right that which 

 was wrong, had given the country something that would help 

 the people onwards towards peace and general prosperity. 



The National Statute Book : What it should show 



Our Statute Book should be full of the records of Statesmen ; 

 that is to say, there should be a number of Acts of public utility 

 conceived in the true interests of the country and carried out on 

 those broad, generous lines which, while conserving in full all 

 national interests, should be equally fair to all classes of the 

 community. It sliould be full of useful, helpful, rational, up-to- 

 date enactments which would carry with them the unmistakable 

 imprint of those six hundred and odd legislators who, having 

 been sent to Parliament to do the work of the nation, had 

 done it well, and in the true interests of the commonweal. 



Such Acts should clearly licar the impress of loyal, patriotic 

 minds, of minds unbiassed by party and untainted by seltishness. 

 They should show that they had Ijeen framed in recognition of the 

 national necessities, and with the sole oliject of serving national 

 interests. They should plainly demonstrate that, while not 

 hostile to our relations with foreign countries, nor in any way 

 inimical to Imperial interests, they were of such a wise, far- 

 seeing nature as would help the people to make the most of 

 the internal resources of their country without the slightest 

 fear of harm or injury accruing to their trade and industries 

 from external influences. 



Every Act sliould clearly show that one trade or industry 

 would not benefit at the expense of another, or that one section 

 of the community, or one particular class, had not been helped 

 to the detriment of another section or class. 



What the Xational Statute Book does show 



What the Statute Book dues show is the very antithesis of 

 this. 



With a few very rare exceptions it is evident, from the 

 effect of their operation, that many Acts have been badly 



