THREE-YEAR TERM

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 119, 16 November 1937, Page 8

THREE-YEAR TERM

LIFE OF PARLIAMENT

AMENDMENT TO THE LAW

BILL INTRODUCED

Permanent reversion to the threeyeap term of Parliament is provided for in the Electoral Amendment Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by Governor-General's Message and read a first time. The measure also makes alterations in the Maori system of voting to bring it into line with that employed by Europeans.

The main operative clause of the Bill prescribes that "every House of Representatives hereafter elected shall, unless the General Assembly is sooner dissolved, continue for a period of three years, computed from the day flxed for the return of the writs issued for the general election of members of the House of Representatives, and no longer." The section in the Electoral Amendment Act, 1934, which introduced the four-year term, is repealed. The remainder of the Bill sets out the form of Maori voting to be adopted in the future. It ensures that there shall be secrecy at the Maori elections. The voting forms will be the same as those used by Europeahs, except that the directions are \o appear on them printed in Maori and English. Another clause extends the time of the closing of the polls on election day from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. A clause is inserted providing that returning officers shall lodge the can-' dldates' deposits at the Bank of New Zealand to the credit of the Chief Electoral Officer, instead of retaining them until after- the official declaration of the poll. _• .