N.Z. ‘constipated’ by 3-year term

Press, 28 May 1981, Page 1

N.Z. ‘constipated’ by 3-year term

New Zealand is “constipated” by its three-year parliamentary term, according to the Cook Islands’ Premier (Sir Thomas Davis). “New Zealand is constipated in trying to do anything because before it can it is time for the next election,” he said in Christchurch yesterday. New Zealand would be better off if the parliamentary term were extended to five years io

conform to the Westminster parliamentary model, Sir Thomas said. Many New Zealand members of Parliament had told him that they favoured an extension of the term, but he doubted whether it would ever happen because to do so would require a two-thirds majority in the House. “ r do not think anywould would ever get; that,” he said. Sir Thomas was visit-

jng Christchurch as part of a .three-week tour of -New Zealand. During the tour he has been invested as a Knight Commander of. the Order of the British Empire and will visit- communities of Cook Islanders.

Sir Thomas said a bill amending the Cook Islands’ constitution would become law soon after he returned. The bill was the .target of a national petition organised by the Opposition Party, which opposed a provision extending the parliamentary term from four years to five years. Sir Thomas said the Opposition could not prevent the bill becoming law, because the Government had succeeded in gaining a two-thirds majority for its passage. “All it needs is the signature of the Queen's representative and my own signature,”, he said. The Oposition’s petition, which is,said to have been signed by more than twothirds of all Cook Islanders eligible to vote, has been referred to a parliamentary select committee. Sir Thomas has discussed the bill with the New Zealand Government during his visit. ’