Parliamentary Reform

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29851, 18 June 1962, Page 3

Parliamentary Reform

Sir, —Before the general public consider the proposed Parliamentary reforms of the C ns’itutional Society. it would be wise to study the society’s declaration of April 23, 1959. "The Society will support any candidates for election to Parliament who are pledged to uphold and implement democracy and to fight .the force of socialism, now threatening New Zealand." Are members of the society willing to forgo socialist amenities they receive and take for granted, as universal superannuation, free medicines, child allowance. free hospitals and maternity wards, etc, or is it their aim to prevent workers from having social amenities? With the present Tory Government in power and if 3 second chamber of Parliament were instituted our healthy social laws could be rescinded in one session of Parliament.—Yours, etc, AWARE. June 15, 1962.

Sir. —The Constitutional Society is a strong ally of our w’eak Tory Government and only wants a second chamber to throw out legislation when Labour gets in at the 1963 General Election. They want to fill it with Tories and so make it another House of Lords whose motto has always been the safeguarding of wealth, property, and the Tory-inspired Constitution. I can also assure Mr J, Paton Boyd that three years is long enough for any one. Referenda may suit the Constitutional Society, but Labour maintains that a Government, once elected, must govern in the best interests of all. Perhaps Mr Boyd can explain the meaning of “chosen largely by public vote.” as many people will be interested to know because it appears to be undemocratic.—Yours, etc, DISILLUSIONED NATIONALIST. June 15. 1962.