LEGISLATURE BILL.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16987, 9 November 1920, Page 6

LEGISLATURE BILL.

PASSED BY HOUSE.

(abridgkd vrkss association nEronT.) WELLINGTON. November 8. In the House of Representatives 10day, in moving the second leading ot the Legislature Act Amendment Bill, Ji| Massey anuounced that ho would not go on with clause 3, defining tho term "contractor" under tho Act Ho would obtain .a declaratory judgment on' the question from tho frunremo Court. That, he thought, would bo t ; n»> better way to prevent, any suggestion of impropriety. Ho strongly supported tho proposed increase in '"^β , ""'' I '*; iretion being Riven to tho l-.lector.U Boundary Commissioners. Tlie Bill was read .a sivond time. In Committee, Mr Veitch said ho objected to the clause postponing tho Maori elections on a European basi;.. because tho time for whuta they wero nut off was too indefinite. It koked like a permanent postponement, whicn was placing too inucti power in we hands of the Government. cSir William Homes said tho postponement was only intended to meev tho case of by-elections. 11 a- vacuncj occurred in a Maori e«it at pn»cnt. no bv-electiou could be held, bemuse no rolls wero in existence, and now. could lie prepared. As soon as tlie rolls wero prepared ttoo clause, would be withdrawn. All the Maori members favoured the clause. ■jir Maeeoy assured the House that no time would' bo lost in preparing the Tolls.

Tho clause passed. ~.-.• <• Tho clause widening tne definition .o. "contractor" was. on the motion ot tlio Prime Minister, struck out. Mr Massey moved a new clause giving public 'servants the rig'.it to become candidates for Parliament. This was agreed to on tho voices. Mr Massey moved a new clause, extending the 'margin of discretion which tho Representation Commissioners may exercise from SoO to 1250 electors in order the bettor to prosrve community of interest in now electoral districts. ! Mr McCbmbj complained that the result would bo to increase the effect ot tlie country quota and operate, unfairly in some city electorates. Tho matter mMit bo allowed to stand over till next session when a properly considered measure could be brought down. The Prime Minister said the clause had nothing to do with the country quota; it was simply designed to remove some anomalies often complained of. in the past especially in tho case, of somo small boroughs. Tho matter was ono that should be dealt with so that tho boundary commissioners could go on with their work. . . Mr Sullivan objected to giving the commissioners power to make so great a reduction in the strength of country electorates as was possiblo under this proposal, and which could bo used to the detriment of city electorates. He could not agree to anything that would increase the disproportion between country and city. Mr McCombs suggested as a way out? thnt a measure of proportional representation should be provided by gronping electorates into areas, returning from three to nine members. The clause was carried on the voices. Mr McCombs moved a new clauso providing for the adoption of proportional representation. He remarked that in a general way it would be found that, about' nine electorates in city or thickly populated centres would equal three in country districts. Tho clause was lost by 40 votes to 23. Mr MeConibs moved a further amendment enabKni women to bo appointed to the Legislative Council. This wns lost on tho voices. Tho Bill was reported with amendments, read a third time and passed , .