COUNTRY RIGHTS STOLEN

Evening Star, Issue 25619, 20 October 1945, Page 5

COUNTRY RIGHTS STOLEN

THE QUOTA ABOLITION BILL FEDERATED FARMERS PROTEST (P.A.) ' CHRISTCHURCH, Oct. 19. " One can only feel that the whole gamut, of electoral law has been searched to give an advantage to the party in office," said Mr W. W. Mulholland. Dominion president of the Federated Farmers, speaking on the country quota proposals in the Electoral Amendment Bill at a meeting of the North Canterbury branch of the federation to-day. " Without warning and with a good deal of indication that nothing would happen, the Government has produced a measure that it was not going to support ■ before the last election," Mr Mulholland said. "It is a measure which has not the support of a majority of the members of Parliament, but which they will force through by the party machine. This is the wrong way to go about it constitutionally." This matter, Mr Mulholland said, concerned the whole of the rural community, which was being deprived of some of its rights. In addition to the country quota, there was also an alteration in the method of computing the numbers used in arriving at 76 electorates. They would use those ' over the age of 21 years. It had been computed that town people had fewer in the famfy under 21 than: country people. " A measure has been brought down that is gravely unconstitutional and not British," said Mr A. M. Carpenter. " In the/ interests of the country and the Constitution we shoul4 register our abhorrence df the throwing over of the Constitution." Mr J. W. Earl: We need more representation from the rural areas to save New Zealand. We view with grave concern the loss of its representation. r^ At the request of the meeting the following resolution was framed and passed unanimously protesting against "the grave misuse of power " by the Government:— .

" This meeting condemns the action of the Government in attempting bv the use of its party majority to the Electoral Act in ways which-it believes will favour its chances of gaining a majority of the seats in Parliament at the next general election in violation of constitutional usage. We demand that an election be held on the electoral issue before it becomes law. " The abolition of the country quota," the resolution continued. " Avill make many country electorates so large that the member will not he ajjle to maintain efficient con+aet with the people and their needs. The country quota is an attempt to make the country and small towns' vote of equal effect with the citv voter's vote, whose facilities for meeting together and acting collectively give them a great advantage. We stronglv oppose the proposed legislation, and protest against the manner in which it has been introduced."