CUTTING THE COST

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 77, 1 April 1931, Page 13

CUTTING THE COST

CHEAPEE PARLIAMENT

A BUSINESS PROPOSAL

Business men take a business view of the GoveriiQicmt of the country. Accordingly they suggest methods of reducing "overhead," as they term it. Among matters more or less political considered by the oxecutive of the Associated Chambers of Commerce of Now Zealand is a moro economical Parliament. Economy in Parliamentary overhead, they appear to think,'is not only possible but practicable and eminently desirable. The idea behind proposals emanating from the Auckland and Cambridge Chambers of Commerce was that of effecting economy in the constitution and procedure of Parliament. Suggestions wore made by members of the executive that economies should also be effected by the reduction of local bodies. It was thorofore decided to ascertain the opinion of Chambers _of Commerce and if, on receipt of replies, the expressions of opinion are in accord with those of the executive, the secretary of tho Associated Chambers was instructed to make representations to the Government along such lines. A FIFTY PER CENT. CUT. The Auckland proposal was to reduce the present Legislative Council ultimately to 20 members, and that no new members be appointed until the number of Councillors is below 20. With regard to the House of Representatives, the idea was not a bare ten per cent, cut in the number of the law makers but a cut of 50 per cent. There are already four Maori members, which number it was proposed should stand as it is, but there are 76 other members, this number having been fixed sinco 1900. It was held that considerable savings to the country could be effected and the efficiency of the Legislature in no way impaired if those 76 memebrs wero reduced to 38, and their constituencies were so expanded as to weld two adjacent electoral districts into one by ; adjustment of their boundaries. The opinion of the executive was that this economical proposal could bo achioved at once at the election to bo held this .year. Another thing was the inconvenience and the interference with business of holding a General Election near to Christmas. The elections were very upsetting to trade,' and the view of the commercial community appears to bo that some other time of the year should , be selected in which to hold the General ■'. Elections. The request ,of various Chambers of Commerce for, the executive to impress upon .the Government . the desirability'of holding the General ; Elections earlier than December had : already been taken up by the secretary : in-a letter to the Prime Minister. The | Prime Minister's reply was received . and the secretary's action" endorsed. : The secretary' was instructed to refer , tho matter to the Prime Minister again at a suitable date. SOUTH ISLAND MAIN TRUNK. The executive discussed the advisability of the Government proceeding further with the construction of the South Island Main Trunk Railway. .; Much concern was expressed at the continuance of the construction, and ' the president was requested to writo tho Prime Minister asking that in view of the almost universal condemnation of the completion of tho line, and the ; findings of the Fay-Casey Commission, a statement might bo forwarded to the Associated Chambers of Commerce, sotting forth the reasons for continuing . with the line, and that an explanation ; be furnished as to how tho additional ( heavy capital expenditure can bo justified. . , BILLS BEFORE THE HOUSE. i Tho Finance Bill, now before the ' House, was considered. The question ' of local body economies was considered j in connection with tho Bill. • The secretary was instructed to ask all Cham- ' bors. of Commerce to indicate to the ■ association what steps have been taken < in their districts, by the local bodies, ' to effect economies and to request that ' if no move has been made; the Chamber : of Commerce in its district take action to bring about'the desired result. I The Mortgagors' Relief Bill, also I now before the House, and the question of farmers' finance (the scheme inaugurated by the Canterbury; Chamber of . Commerce) came under discussiou. It .1 was regretted that the Bill had to be introduced. The secretary was in- > structed to write to .the Prime Minister along tho linos of the decision reached, ' stating that. the' Associated Chambers of Commerce endorsed the principle of a voluntary sehenie, and approved the ' Bill in so far as it might serve as an incentive to voluntary adjustment. EARTHQUAKE LEGISLATION. The proposed insurance surtax of Is Gd per cent, was considered and the matter was referred back to the Central Committee for its mature consid- ; eration, when details, of proposed legislation were available . , The executive expressed its opinion that the Earthquake Bill was a measure of very' grave importance and required the most careful consideration and all that the term involved, therefore it was deemed inadvisable at the moment to make any definite pronouncement on tho measure until it had been most carefully studied. ■