ELECTORAL REFORM

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 63, 11 September 1924, Page 5

ELECTORAL REFORM

PROPOSED LEGISLATION

MORE CURIOSITY IN THE HOUSE

Further curiosity evinced by members of the House of Bepresentatives yesterday afternoon as to the nature of the second Legislature Amendment Bill, which the Prime Minister proposes to introduce by Governor's Message, was not satisfied by Mr. Massey.

The Prime Minister moved that the Legislature Amendment Bill, which the Labour Party had several times successfully talked out on the motion for leave to introduce, should be discharged from the Order Paper.

• Mr. D. G. Sullivan (Avon): "Is the Prime Minister prepared to give the House any indication of the motive that has actuated him in so moving?"

Mr. Massey: "Yes, if the House desires it."

Mr. Sullivan: "Will lie also explain, in order that members may be in a position to know whether they should consent to the motion, whether the- Bill that is being eliminated is identical with the one that he proposes to introduce, or whether this is another method of getting the same Bill'before the "House?" Mr. W. E. Parry (Auckland Central) asked whether the Bill it was proposed to bring down by Governor's Message would be a Government measure. "It will," replied Mr. Massey, and theit—"Does the hon. .member mean will it be a party measure?" Mr. Parry: "yes." Mr. Massey: "No, it will not." Mr. P. Fraser (Wellington Central). appealed to Mr. Speaker for his ruling on the Prime Minister's motion. '"Was notice of motion given by the- Prime Minister to discharge the Bill from the Order Paper? Mr. Massey said he realised that it could only be discharged with the consont of the House. Mr. Fraser: "Unanimous consent?" Mr. Speaker stated that a motion to ! discharge a Bill from the Order Paper, being a matter of procedure, did not require notice to be given. In addition to the Prime Minister's motion, however, Mr. Fraser had moved an amendment to the introduction of the Bill, and before the measure could be withdrawn the amendment must be disposed of. Therefore, he could not accept Mr. Massey motion. (Labour hilarity.) The Prime Minister said he quite understood the position in regard to the Bill. He had no right to move to discharge the Bill from the Order Paper, because Mr. Fraser had the. right to resume the debate on his amendment' if he was so inclined. But lie was strongly of opinion that the amendment was not in order, because it was not relevant to the title of the Bill: Mr. Parry: "Do you want the Bill?"

"If I had not wanted it,"» replied Mr. Massey, "it would not be on the Order Paper." Mr. H. E. Holland (Buller): "Do you propose to substitute a different Bill .ur it?" ' • It did not matter much to him, said the Prime Minister, whether the Bill was struck out or not. He proposed to bring down anothor Bill, probably No. 2 of the same title, but ifc would not be the same as the one mentioned on the Order Paper. - Mr. Holland: "What will be the difference?" Mr.. Massey said that certain proposals in the present measure would be omitted from the new one. v Mr. Holland: "What are they?" Mr. Massey: "I hope the hon. member will his soul in patience." He added that he preferred to bring down the new measure by straight-forward means rather than by any other method that he could adopt. "IT IS DRAWN." • Mr. T, 51. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) : "Is the Bill the Prime Minister proposes to intooduce yet drawn?" "Yes, it is drawn," said Mr. Massey, "but not printed. It is in type." "Has the Prime Minister read it yet?" asked Mr. Wilford with a smile. Mr. Massey: "I hope the hon. gentleman won't ask silly questions." (Laughter.) "■ ' j "Has the right hon. gentleman read it?" persisted the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. Massey: "Considering that I had it dictated to a typist I'think that took the place of reading it." Mr. Wilford suggested that it was absurd to take up the time of the House in the matter, and that if the House objected' to the withdrawal of the measure the, Prime Minister should let it drop and get on to the other Bill.

The Prime Minister said he had intimated that that was what he intended to do. Mr. Wilford: "When does the Prime Minister intend to bring in the new Bill?" .■.■'• Mr. Massey: "At the beginning of next week." Replying to Mr. Speaker, Mr. Eraser said that in view o; the uncertainty of the situation he did not feel inclined to withdraw his amendment, but it the Prime Minister would indicate one or two of the loading points or the nature of his Bill he might do so. • Mr. W. D. Lysnar (Gisborne) : "What difference would that make ?" Mr. Fraser: "It might make a very great difference." » Mr.. Massey said he would move to postpone the item on the Order Paper relating to-the introduction' of the Legislature .Amendment Bill. The new measure would have the same title us that now before the House, and there would be nothing to prevent anyone from moving the insertion of a clause from the present measure into the new Bill. Replying to further questions, Mr. Massey stated that there was nothing concerning the second ballot in his Bill. He went on to allude to the waste of time caused by tho Labour members blocking the introduction of his legislation. Mr. Wilford: "Are you going to let them block it?" Mr. Massey : "No. I am going to do the other thing." ' The item on the Order Paper was thereupon postponed until the other motions to introduce Bills were disposed of, and was not againl reached at that sitting.