PARLIAMENT'S LIFE

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 110, 11 May 1932, Page 6

PARLIAMENT'S LIFE

STEONG OPPONENT

SIR F. D. BELL'S VIEWS

Strong views againstljhe proposal to extend the life of Parliament wero expressed in the ' Legislative • Council yesterday afternoon* by the Right Hon. ,Sir Francis Bell,, who said that no Parliament'had the right to extend its own life without first' consulting the people. .... ■ - *- .. ." '

Sir Francis said he could.not possibly vote for the clause, owing to its.grave impropriety. He submitted it w£s quite improper to include, such a provision in a Finance BilL He was as much, in favour of-a four-year Parliament as anybody, but he could not approve of the method whieh v -was 'being adopted. They were establishing a very dangerous precedent, and he wondered that the Government did not realise that. Such a step had not Been taken since the days-, of the Rump Parliament. - ■;..- .:..:.';■ •.;'■.:' •■•■'■"■-.- ■■ ■/',. '-,

"I am surprised at the attitude wjiich is being taken up by the vLeader of the Council (Sir James Parr),'? said Sir Francis, "and I am sure if he was occupying a different position he would be taking up the same attitude as I am." ■.- '..-■ .-■'■■.;.;.' ■ :■;■ :

Sir Jamef Parr: "Oh, no." Sir. Francis: "-I have done the'same myself." (Laughter.) The argument that it was necessary to extend the life oi!.-Parliament; in order to complete the Government's programme : was- ludicrous^,.- : No. Parliament bid the right, without the authority, of the people,;.to extend the .term for which;'it had been elected. . :. • ,'■-; ■•';■■'■.•;''

Sir James Parr. said, that • in his opinion it was unfortunate that the extension had not been -'.■ made permanent, lie had early formed\ the opinion that a' three-ypar Parliament, was most wasteful, arid he believed that every member of the"Council .who had spent any time in the' House would subscribe to that view. Threeyear Parliaments did not exist in many other countries. These were times of emergency, and it was more necessary now to extend the life of Parliament than it was even during the war. The Chairman of Committees (the Hon. E. H. Clark), ruled that the Council could not, deal with the; clause, and in this' he r .was supported by the Speaker (the Hon. Sir Walter Carncross). The"clause was retained on the voices. ...' '-~ '. ' .-.-'-, r .■ y.. J. :. The Finance Bill was read a- third time and passed. ': ;