A LONGER TERM.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20543, 11 May 1932, Page 17

A LONGER TERM.

LIFE OF PARLIAMENT. COUNCIL ADOPTS PROPOSAL. (PBBSS ASSOCU.TIO3 TJELZ3BAX.) WELLINGTON, May 10. The Legislative Council met at 10 a.m. The Finance Bill was received from the House and read a first time. The Thames Borough Commissioner ; Bill was read a second time, put through its remaining stages, and passed unamended. On the second reading of the Finance Bill, the Hon. Sir James Allen said he regretted that the school age had been altered and that support to kindergartens was being limited by tho Government. He spoke against the Matson Shipping Line in view of the declining freights of New Zealand shipping services. Proposed Extension. The Hon. Sir Thomas Sidey also regretted the withdrawal of the kindergarten grant and said the children of the poor would suffer. He would oppose the extension of the life of Parliament because the three-year Parliament had been one of the main principles the old Liberal Party had stood for. There ■was an important constitutional principle at stake. If th 6 term of Parliament were extended to four years, why not make it longer? The extension made in the war years was exceptional. The Hon. Sir William Hall-Jones, who also opposed the proposal, suggested that a further extension would be made before the existing Parliament expired, and that that was why the proposal had been brought.down at the present early stage ■. A dangerous precedent was being established and the time would come when tho chickens would come home to roost and many ■would regret the step that was being taken. | The Hon. D. Buddo said the proI posals in the Bill were warranted by the abnormal times. I The Hon. Colonel G. J. Smith supj pcrted the raising of the school age, but regretted the fact that grants for university education were being withdrawn. He supported the extension of the life of Parliament, and said the only question was whether Parliament should extend its own life. He expressed the opinion that legislators' should be the custodians of each other's honour. Public men were being slandered in New Zealand, and members of the Legislature should refute such slanders. Vilification of Public Men. Eeplying, the Hon. Sir James Parr said all decent people would reprehend the vilification of public men. There was too much idle gossip going on in New Zealand about a certain man, and he hoped it would cease. He said thre.eyear Parliaments were most wasteful, and said the proposed extension was most necessary in order to enable the Government to put its legislation through. The second reading was agreed to. In Committee Sir Thomas Sidey called, for a division on the clause fixing the school commencing age at six,, but it was retained by 12 votes to 1. A Dangerous Precedent. On the clause providing for the extension of the life of Parliament the Et. Hon. Sir Francis Bell said he must oppose it. He was as much in favour of a four-year term as anyone, but the Government was doing an improper thing in including such a provision in a so-called Finance Bill. No Parliament had the right to extend its own life without first going to the electors, and no such action had been taken since the "Bump Parliament." By adopting the clause they would bo establishing a most dangerous precedent. ■• Sir Francis Bell said he proposed to divide the Council, but the Chairman, supported by Mr Speaker, ruled that the Council could not deal with the clause. It was then adopted on the voices. , _ The Bill wa3 put through Committee, read a, third time, and passed. The Council agreed to the amendments in the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill and adjourned until the ringing of the bells. When the Council met at 7.30 p.m., the usual valedictory references were made and the Council rose at 8 p.m.