PARLIAMENT

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21243, 15 August 1934, Page 12

PARLIAMENT

, — # — JPROPOSED FOURYEAR TERM i SECOND READING DEBATE PRIME MINISTER DEFENDS | .MEASURE HFtom Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, August 14. 'Extension of the life of Parliament was debated once again by the House of Representatives this evening, when the Government's bill for permanent four-year Parliaments was brought down for second reading. All the old arguments for and against this measure were advanced again, and the Government stood up to a continuous attack from -the Labour and Independent members, who have shown that they see practically eye to eye on the subject. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) made out the case for four-year Parliaments in a long and spirited speech, arguing that his own experience as a Minister and as a member of Parliament had convinced him that three years was too short for a Government to take up the reins, formulate its policy, and carry it into best effect. His critics accused him of interfering with the constitutional rights of the electorate in taking the responsibility of legislating for future Parliaments without first asking the permission of the people. ! Greater facilities for blind voters at general elections are provided for | in an amendment to the bill, which Mr Forbes intends to introduce in committee. The amendment proposes that a blind or illiterate voter should at his request be accompanied into one of the inner compartments reserved for the marking of ballot papers by a person qualified to assist him in marking the paper. The paner may be marked bv the voter with the assistance of his companion, or by the companion in accordance with the instructions of the voter. No person shall bo qualified to assist more than two voters to mark their papers, and the assistant must himself be registered as an elector, but not necessarily of the same district. The assistant must satisfy the deputy-returninf officer that he is registered as an elector, and has not already assisted more than one voter. If the assistant communicates to any person information concerning the candidate whom the voter has chosen, he shall be liable on summary conviction to six months' imprisonment. The House met for a short time enly this afternoon. After formal business had been taken, the Prime Minister moved a motion of sympathy with the relatives of the late Hon. Dr. W. E. Collins, and when several members had joined with him in paying tribute to his memory the House adjourned until the evening. The afternoon was spent by members of the Coalition in a Government caucus, where matters of policy, including the budget and the coming Customs Amendment Bill, ■were discussed.