“CHECK NOT NEEDED”

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30413, 11 April 1964, Page 3

“CHECK NOT NEEDED”

Upper House Opposed (N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 10. A second chamber of Parliament was conceived as having two main functions; to prevent the abuse of the otherwise absolute and unfettered legislative power of the first chamber, and to assist the first chamber in the execution of its duties, the Parliamentary Committee on Constitution Reform was told today. Mr K. J. Keith, a lecturer in. constitutional law at Victoria University, said in New Zealand the first function did not justify the upper house’s re-establishment because the power of delay as a means of allowing public opinion to be formed and heard was not necessary.

The balance of party power was delicate and members of Parliament, especially Ministers, because of the ease of access by the public, were familiar with public opinion on all contentious issues. The electorate provided the real check on precipitate action. Other factors peculiar to New Zealand which helped the rapport between the Government and the public, Mr Keith said, were the caucus system, the reference of draft legislation to interested parties outside the house, and the reference of contentious legislation to committees of the house. Another factor was the considerable publicity which surrounded contentious legislation. Mr Keith cited the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Bill, of 1961, and last year’s Indecent Publications Bill.