LIFE OF PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 95, 19 October 1931, Page 8

LIFE OF PARLIAMENT

EXTENSION OPPOSED

HON. A. D. M'LEOD'S VIEW

(By Telegraph.) (Special to "The Evening Post.")

MASTERTON, This Day.

Interviewed on Saturday, the Hon. A. D. M'Leod said it came, as a great surprise to learn that ' the Beform leaders and party had agreed to an arbitrary extension of the life of Parliament.

While realising to the full the tremendous difficulties confronting our own and other Parliaments, Mr. M'Leod said, he had honestly believed that Bef orm stood for principle and not expediency in politics. Great as were the ' economic and political difficulties of New Zealand, they were certainly not greater than those oi! Britain-and other parts of the Empire; and if Britain, without statutory obligation, could risk and afford an election, it was ridiculous saying that New . Zealand could not do the same. The one and only safeguard making democratic government possible or safe, was the be-forehand-fixed statutory obligation that Parliament must come up at stated times for judgment. If this obligation could be moved or removed at the will alone of those already in Parlia-. ment, then democratic government became a farce. Within the Empire there, were over twenty demoeraticallyeleoted Parliaments, and of them all New Zealand's alone had even seriously mentioned the extension ol: the life of a Parliament beyond the before-hand-fixed statutory period.

He agreed that in these most serious times personal feelings and desires should receive little consideration, and this applied to thoso in, as well as those out, of Parliament. He, however regretted exceedingly that Reformers were to be found supporting an arbitrary extension of the life of Parliament.