PARLIAMENT’S LIFE

Evening Star, Issue 21784, 28 July 1934, Page 23

PARLIAMENT’S LIFE

PIiEMIER OH NEXT ELECTION MAY COME BeEDRE EXTENDED TERM EMPIRES .t'tou Oil* P*»MA«ENti«V R»POETB».) WELLINGTON, July 2 7. If the problems Dow facing New Zealand’s primary producing industries cun be satisfactorily dealt with before the end of 1935 the Government, according to a statement made in the House to-day by Mr Forbes, will not stand in the way of a General Election being held before the expiration of the extended lenn of the present Parliament.

'■ Our (crui has been extended for one year, and it is not a question ol discussing extensions for live, ten, or twenty years," said Mr Forbes, in replying to statements made during the debate on the measure of Mr Savage, which seeks to repeal the enactment which postponed the holding of the next General Election until 1935.

“ In view of the improvement which is apparent in other directions and the general acceptance of the work of the Government,” added Mr Forbes, ” we may be able to complete our rehabilitation programme in less than the one extra year taken for that purpose, and if we can accomplish it and meet the wishes of those who want an earlier ejection, very well; I say to the Labour Party that we will do our very best to meet their wishes and hold the General Election even sooner than the end of 1935.”

The Prime Minister's indication, however, was preceded by a long statement of the reasons why, in (ho opinion of (he Ministry, a General Flection at the end of 1934 would not bo in the interests of the country; and, in discussing the problems still to be tackled, Mr Forbes referred to the prominence of those affecting the dairying and moat industries. It was anticipated, he said, that the Dairy Commission would recommend the passage of legislation dealing with the dairying industry, and the Government would have to deal with that legislation during the current session. Mr Fraser: You could pass that legislation and thou gracefully expire. Mr Forbes retorted that there would be a considerable amount of regulation of the industry arising out of the legislation,, although at present he had not the slightest idea of what line the recommendations of the commission would take. However, from judications given at different conferences there were possibilities that a greater improvement or more efficiency in industry could be secured. Moreover, there was the problem facing the meat industry, one as serious as that affecting the other primary industry. “ Within the next few months, the Prime Minister continued, “1 believe will lisy© to take aetioil ; to iiicfifc the problems 1 have mentioned. No other Government I know' of has had to deaf with siich difficult problems, Anti for the Government, when it is in the midst of tackling these difficult and intricate problems, to have before it the fact of participation in a General ejection at the end °f this year cannot be in the interests of the country." A Labour Member: What the people want is an election. The Prime Minister: It is not desirable to bave_ an upset regarding the political situation. Mr Parry: The people think so. The Prime Minister: A certain section might think so. Mr Parry: The farmers do. “ No,” replied Mr Forbes. “ The farmers are very anxious indeed about their future. It is different with those wjio have not given thought to the future of (lie country or its business. There is no doubt that the farmers realise what the limitation of their market means. Mr Parry: Of course they do. They know you led them astray. The Prime Minister: The men in the

industry know that nothing more disastrous and more discouraging than limitation of their market eou|d be put into operation ih New Zealand. When the market' Itself says " That' is your limit ” the Government has to do its best to make, conditions as. reasonable and as equitable as.it possibly .can.” . It was asserted by Air Forbds that no one at ai time like the present would hold that the men who werd responsible for dealing with the economic situation .should be displaced by six entirely different set of friaimgers. Such a course would hot be followed in any business he knew of. the Government had done was to secure m a proper manner, through Parliament, an extension for a reasonable period to enable its tasks to be completed, and if the difficulties could! be settled and the situation handed over with a feeling of security to others, then he lor one Would not stand in the way of a general election' at . wh'atevt tunt u jnight take place. But Mr borbes insisted that a general election at the end of the present year would not be in the interests of the country, it was for 11 ic welfare of the dominion that the Government should carry on the work to which its hands tferc set. lie recalled that so serious was the economic situation in 1932 that the Government, after the formation of the Coalition, had obtained trout tlji6. electors a free hand to pass sueji measures as were necessary. The Labour Party had remained aloof and had done all it could to frighten the against the MmihiMrati'bh, _as well as making all the political capital it could out of the situation. The Government, on the other hand,- had hot quailed m doing its duty. “’We claim,” lie added, * that au extension of the life of the present Parliament was absolutely essential tor fhe prosecution of our programme and for. allowing the full effects of Our policy to bo seep. The Labour Party, oil the other hand, has not come to the help of the country at all.” These' remarks were by’ the Leader of the Opppsifi'oli’s SUvage) speech iii moving the sei?dfid, reading °f the Electoral Amendment Bill, which the Speaker ruled out of order as involving, Crown' expenditure, but of which lie''allowed .dispussion. Air Savage’ said that while it might Ite possible to find reasons for extending the life of Parliament when the country was in a state of whr it wps extremely difficult to find reasons for extending the life of the present Parliament. The Qovefniiipfit hjd gone to flic country’- saying tlffit it waptPd A Jfee hand, and line! offered nothing very definite. Certainly it had hot to]cl the people that'it intended ip extend the life of Paijianieht. The newspapers had ridiculed the suggestion that- P» extension of the life of Parliament VeouTd destroy the tight of the; people to gftveffn,- but even a school child would know that was the case. The Prime Minuter had stated that' frdrn legal point of view Parliament was justified in extending its life by®999 years, but he admitted that such extension would end ultimately in a revolution. Air Biavngc admitted that Parliament was nil powerful, but it should not misuse its powers. He did not claim that Parr liament had violated: its’ ebhk'titutipn,■ .hub lie did clikiiiV that it had •violated tlie understanding of flip constitution, tf members lipid tlicin seats for lodger thnii three years they here, no longer representatives of the peqplb. ft was aif impertinence for nVenibSfs to hay that they were the only men who had the right to represent their constituencies. Ho'hoped the'people would’give an expression of their views on the question in no uncertain manner. After the Premier had replied (as reported), Air W. E. Parry (Auckland "Central) said the position of the 1 country wits getting- worse instead-of better. Tlie Government eou]d not justify an extension' of the life' of Parliament:on the'nature of its programme. Np judge would uphold the breaking of the contract- between Parliament nnffi the people. , Mr J. A'. Ha'rgcst (luvercargilO said lie believed am o'xtehsibn of the life - of Pgfiianieht ivas necegsrtry fo give the Government's plan a chance to work out. , , The debate was interrupted, and the House rose at 5.30.