COUNTRY QUOTA ISSUE

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24713, 2 November 1945, Page 4

COUNTRY QUOTA ISSUE

* Dissolution of Parliament H Sought ff ————————— • v%? FARMERS UNION REQUEST TO 1 GOVERNOR-GENERAL 1 (P.A.) WELLINGTON, November "fcfjj The Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers' Union hud sent a communication to the Governor-General (Sir Cyril Newall) reii® questing him to intervene in the Government's decision to proceed witi'l the passage of the Electoral Amendment Bill. The Farmers' Union, Mil a letter to his Excellency, forwarded late to-day, has asked him to takell up the matter of the abolition of the country quota with the Governmental by requesting its reconsideration of the legislation. The Farmers' Union has also, it is understood, requested.his Exctll ; ii lency to dissolve Parliament with a view to an early general election awtf a test of public opinion on the Government's action in proposing -toil abolish the country quota. * ' -^l The decision to approach' the Governor-General was reached by"tS«H Farmers' Union after receipt of tHe reply of the Prime Minister (thfcff Rt. Hon. P. Fraser), refusing, on .behalf of the Government, to withdnwii the bill. . - . ■ „ t ••^H In view of the Government's attitude the full conference of'-apS Farmers' Union has been urgently reconvened, and will assemble in Railway Social Hall, Wellington, at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. TbiP Dominion president, Mr W. W. Mulholland, will preside over jnffi attendance of delegates expected from all parts of the country. ''■■■■'■■■ kssjm

NEW BOUNDARY COMMISSION ASSURANCE BY MR FRASER (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, November 1. A denial that there would be any interference with the proposed electoral boundaries commission was given by the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) by interjections when Mr J. A- Roy (Opposition, Clutha) was speaking in the House'of Representatives this afternoon.. Mr Roy said Labour Party organisers were saying how the new boundaries would be drawn. Discussing' the new boundary commission, Mr Roy declared that the blueprints of the redrawn electorates would be ready for it. All the com-: mission would have to do would be to give its approval. If the Prime Minister attempted to deny that he was not in touch with his party organisation, Mr Fraser: No party organisation will have any connexion with the. boundary commission, Mr Roy said , that Labour Party organisers were travelling through the' country telling Labour Party meetings where the new electorates would be. Mr Fraser: No party official, or anyone else, will be allowed to approach the commission. Mr Roy: Then the Prime Minister should call off those organisers. They are telling meetings just which electorates will be eliminated. Mr Fraser: I will say this officially. I don't care what anybody has said, whether an organiser or anyone else. The commission will be free to dp its job without interference from anyone. Mr Roy said Labour Party organisers were making no secret of the fact that they -were working out the boundaries. Mr F. W. Doidge (Opposition, Tauranga): They have inside knowledge. TALK OF DIRECT ACTION TRADES COUNCIL REPLIES TO BUSINESSMEN "In encouraging the more hot-headed farmers in their threatening attitude and promise of direct action, the Associated Chambers of- Commerce should bear in mind that if it comes to direct action the organised industrial workers are by no means tyros," said Mr A. B.' Grant, secretary of the Canterbury Trades Council, after the council lasti evening had carried a resolution supporting the Government in the abon- J tion of the country quota. "The industrial workers support the Labour Government, and indicated this very recently to the Chambers of Commerce oh the occasion of the recent businessmen's demonstration in Wellington. If intimidation of the Government is intended by either the farmers or- the chambers, then the - organised industrial workers will assuredly take action in support of the Government" "To say, as the Chamber of Commerce did, that the country communities were being despoiled was hot correct, the Trades Council held," said Mr Grant "Democratic procedure meant, if anything, that each vote should be of equal value, irrespective of the geographical position, or place in life, of the voter. The rural community in New Zealand is a declining community in so far as numbers are concerned land there is no justification for loading the voting power in the interests of one particular section. "It is • interesting to observe the Chamber of Commerce defending' a privilege extended to the country people and at the same time continuing in its attacks upon the rights of another and larger section. The chamber has consistently opposed every endeavour for progress made by the Labour Government and the workers. The workers recall the open hostility of the chamber to the 40-hour week, the social security enactments, wage increases, and the nationalisation of the Bank of New Zealand, along with its continued enmity towards various groups of organised workers."

DISCUSSION oHI • bill -;it SECOND READLNgIS CARRIED :|f§j ANOTHER LONG sfcrTiSlS OF HOUSE ):SM& (From" Our Parliamentary Reporfe-)fl| 1 WELLINGTON, November^^l Bitter words were exchanged in tfill s House of Representatives yestertfSlll during discussion of the Electoral Amendment Bill. Again the House v satli into this morning, and again GovenwlK ment members withdrew from the bate as soon as the House werif r -tiffal the air at 10.30 p.m. 'Ssffißs The closure was applied at ftliffi and the bill was read a second timilil At one time interjections persistent that Mr Speaker (the Hoill F. W. Schramm) warned membSlil that he would take drastic action.; ?Wsm About midnight, Mr W. A. Sheffltl (Opposition, Patea) moved an ameiiilliJl ment to postpone the second readinfflf until the Government could considers!! taking a referendum. This wasxuledlil out by the Acting-Speaker (Mrs : l£ii McKeen) on the ground that a amendment had been. moved : to'thesffl introductory stages. •'■''^V£:':S£^i§ There was an unusual ; madratill about 11 o'clock, when Mr P. G. &6nS§l nolly (Government, Dunedin drew attention to the lack of a This appeared to cause, considerables annoyance among Government ..memlllP bers, who were summoned by ing of the bells while ing. Opposition memberswho wferepi 31 supper .were not similarly disturbfecl^S Mr C. G. Harker (Opposition, ?Wat||l| pawa) moved an amendment, thafetliill bill be referred to a select of 10 members, five.from.each; the House, to report to the-HouseibnSj? the advisability of basing velectoratislp on the social security register.fe^^^lM After one more Opposition TOetfwj|||| had spoken, the Prime* lit. Hon. P. Fraser) moved tae)clraiilel§Sj Mr Speaker accepting the House divided on the closifre2p|||g amendment and the second the voting in each case beihg'J&^^i^^ Before the House 1.50 a.m. the Prime House would go into bill when it met at IQ.3o; ■&&%§&&£(.it "In a hurry," commented Broadfoot (Opposition, Waitoifl^^S^ : ... ' _ '.^^^ - BILL^mmOM FARMERS' REQUESTpjg . •■■ ■■ REFUSED :--fl^||i (P.A.) WELLINGTON. The withdrawal of Amendment Bill now before Patlisp« ment was requested by a tive deputation from the Wellington of the Federated Farfiierfej of New Zealand which waited bS;t«gp Prime Minister (me Rt Fraser) yesterday afternoon.-"3h&?ssfp After consultation with the the Prime Minister refused quest, stating that the bill 'wottld:;;g|p through the ■ various ■, stages. ■'•''-■ ,-.:-^^S^B The conference, which had called to form the rules of tae;n|syi federation, agreed to adjourn in ■.oxa&jm that the views of the Tlew Farmers' Union and the Federation on the bill could be placjl|| before the Government • v " Mr W. W. Mulholland. leader bf#Sfj: deputation, said that if the ment would hold an election ■ I issues involved, the farmers cept the verdict of the electors'anttngig i questions pf unconstitutional i would arise. - ' * '^gi "The position is regarded as r so" grave that in response to the' ous requests we have received, it jas'.s been decided to reconvene the Jj*"- J jL journed annual conference of *" ft < ? Farmers' Union, which is se,t .f 0 for Friday morning nest," said «w^ r Mulholland. -£>*