PARLIAMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 20, 24 July 1934, Page 11

PARLIAMENT

TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

The House of Representatives met ,t 2.30 p.m. Notice of his intention .to introduce the Distress and Replevin Amendment' Bill was given by the Minister of j Justice (the Hon. J. G. CobbeJ. Ifrs. E. R. McCombs (Labour, Lyttelton) gave notice to ask the Minister of Justice whether, in view of the decisive evidence that drinking after hours was carried out extensive-ly-in some hotels, ho would take steps to effect closer supervision of hotels after hours and on Sundays, with a view to putting, an end to flagrant breaches of the law. Mrs. McCombs supported her question by quoting evidence given in the recent Riccarton murder inquest. Mr. A. J. (Independent, Eden) gave notice to ask the Minister' of Customs whether his attention had been drawn to a newspaper report describing a conversation with Mr. Hawley; would the Minister assure- the House that his statement was not an affront on members of Parliament and an attack on the rights and privileges of members? Mr. Stallworthy said he would like to draw the Minister's attention, to the physiea.l and' financial impossibility of personal" representations being made to the Government and tie propriety and duty of members of making representations on their behalf. The Prime Minister. (the Rt. Hon G. W. Forbes) moved for leave to introduce the Electoral,. Amendment- Bill, providing for the perjnanent extension of the life, of Parliament to four years. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr. M. J. Savage) said that the BiirTepresented a lemarkable move on. the part of the Government, as the next Government could repeal the law straight away.N The correct procedure was to first consult the people. If the question was made an issue at>the next election and the Government was returned, it would be entitled to pass the measure. The greater the gap between Parliament and the people, the woTse it would be for the people. No Government had the right to say' without the authority' of the electors that it was entitled to govern. It was not a fair thing to give all 'extension of -life; it might be better if the Government took tho opposite view. What was the reason for bringing tho Bill down? Mr. H. Atmoro (Independent, Nelson) : 'Distrust of the people. Mr. Savage said he would challenge the Prime Minister's right to introduce the Bill, and ho hoped membeis -would seriously consider how they weie going to vote.' The Government could- not justify the Bill in any way. Mr. Stallworthy said that the introduction of the Bill was a flagrant breach of the constitution. No reference was made in any statement issued by tho Government during the election to an extension of the life of Parliament No Government was justified in extending its own life without prior consultation with the people. The would weaken tho confidence of the people in their trust in the Govornnient,because no one believed >that the Government would prolong its own life. He made the -strongest protest' even against the introduction of the Bill: Mr. W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) said tho introduction of the Bill would bo humorous if there was not'a tragedy lying behind it. What guarantee, would tho peoplp ,have tlinj; tho life of - Parliament would not bo extended beyond four years, especially after the action of the Government in extending tho'life of the present Parliament. The Government had armed itself with dictatorial- powers, and had decided. to postpone a meeting with tho electors. The only reason he could see for the Bill was- to justify the Government extending its. own life. -Already 60,000 people in the Auckland district alone had signed a petition protesting against the extension of tho life of Parliament. It was an extraordinary thing that 'the newspapers were backing up the Government in its seizure of power. Members had been elected for three years, and they had no right to dip thp'ir fingers into the public purse for any longer. Mr. H. Atmore (Independent, Nelson) said he would oppose the introduction .of the BUI. (Proceeding.)