IF A POLL WERE TAKEN

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

IF A POLL WERE TAKEN

OPPOSITION LEADER'S ESTIMATE DEFEAT OF MEASURE BY FIVE TO ONE (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON. August 14. "I am confident that if a poll of the people were taken on this measure it would be defeated by about five to one," said the leader of the Opposition (Mr M. J. Savage), speaking on the second reading of the Electoral Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-night. The bill seeks to extend the life of Parliament permanently from three years to four. "The people to-day are asking for a poll on this question," said Mr Savage. "They are taking the only means open to them by signin" a petition, and they arc doing that in tens of thousands. The petition has been organised by only one man. If he had the machinery to put the petition before all the people of the Dominion, at least three-fourths of them would sign it, because they would say that this Parliament should end at the right time, and future parliaments should do as they think fit." It was not only the proposed term that was involved in the debate, continued Mr Savage. There was also the method employed to get that extension. Why not let next parliament deal with the question after the electors had been consulted? "I have been through this country," added Mr Savage, "and I have said that, given a majority, I will do certain things." The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates: Your trouble is to get a majority.

"My trouble is that I cannot get a majority, and the Government's trouble is to keep the majority it had," said Mr Savage. "We have not had a majority so far; but wc will wait and see. I will not prophesy. I will just light the battle fairly and squarely, and I hope the Government will do the same. The bill will pass because the Government has a majority which will follow it anywhere. The Prime Minister's generosity is wonderful. He is making all these sacrifices for the sake of future governments, .so that they will not have to face the position his Government is facing. I say let future governments look after themselves. All that is involved in this bill is the right of selfgovernment by the people."