PARLIAMENT'S LIFE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20413, 7 December 1931, Page 8

PARLIAMENT'S LIFE.

A POLICY QUESTION. PROPOSED EXTENSION TO FOUR YEARS. ISSUE TO BE ItAISED. [THE rKESS 8p»cl»l Berrtce.] WELLINGTON", December 5. One of tho most important policy questions which it is understood tho Cabinet will consider in the near future relates to the extension of tho life oJ Parliament from three to four years. Should an early session of Parliament be called for February, it is Jikcly that the issue will be raised by tho Government almost at once. There has been a growing opinion in political circles during recent years that a three-year Parliament is too short, and the possibility of extending tho term was discussed freely among members during last session. It cannot be said that the Ministry itself has come to any agreement upon the question, although it is known that several members of tho Cabinet are in favour of extending tho period. This highly important issue was not made a feature of the election campaign by any Party; but it was raised at several meetings throughout the country, and candidates who were questioned were almost without exception in favour of a longer Parliament. In addition, the general public received the candidates' statements on the question favourably. Arguments for Extension.

Tho main contention of those favouring an extended term, is that the period of three years between General Elections is insufficient for the Government to carry through its legislative programme to its logical conclusion. It is maintained that continuity of policy cannot be assured, and that thero is too great a danger of tho work of the Government boing summarily upset by an election at the end of three years,'before its members generally, and Ministers in particular, have been given the opportunity of completing tho work they set out to do upon being installed in office. For numerous reasons, the Parliamentary machine is necessarily slow-moving, and many factors combine to mako it impossible for a Government to pursue its course quicker than at present, in spite of the fact that Parliament itself is not innocent of wasting much time during the sessions. Even were Parliament to meet for only a few weeks each yoar, this would not get over the fact that tho machinery of government operates all the year round, and the administration which is inseparable from the carrying out of the Cabinet policy would not bo hastened merely because Parliament was not sitting.

Rapid in the personnel of the Cabinet-are considered to bo definitely undesirable; and it is well known that a Minister who comes to his work.as an executive' novice after a General Election can be regarded as fully conversant with the duties connected witlj his portfolio only after two or even three years. This, therefore, was the chief reason behind the opinion of a section of the previous Parliament, warranting an extension of the term in New Zealand from three to five veaVs. Difficulties in the Way. Certain difficulties stand in the way of any change being made in the immediate future, one relating to the licensing poll, which was postponed this year. Tho Licensing Poll Postponement Act of last session put off the poll until the second General Election after the passing of tho measure, so that if tho present Parliament runs its full course there will be no referendum until tie end of 1934. Should the life of Parliament be extended by a year, the poll will be delayed until 1935, a circumstance which was not anticipated by the New Zealand Alliance or the licensed trade when the postponement was agreed to. Precedence for a longer Parliamentary term is provided by the practice' jn other parts of the Empire. The term of the British House of Commons is five years, although there ia frequently a dissolution before tho period is up. Until recent years, the term was seven years. In Canada, tho Hqubo of Commons is also elected for five years, the South African House of Assembly holding office for a similar period. The Australian Federal House* of Representatives provides a parallel with New Zetfi land, members being elected for three yiars.