NEW PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 September 1938, Page 10

NEW PARLIAMENT

PROVISIONS OF LAW. When the life of the present Parliament closed on Friday, the machinery provided by Statute for the election 01. a, now House of Representatives came into operation immediately (says the “New Zealand Herald"). W'thin seven days of the expiry oi dissolution of a Parliament, the Gov-ernor-General is required to issue a warrant to the Clerk of the AV fits io proceed with the general election. These writs, which are returnable within -10 days, must be issued to the returning officers within three days of the receipt of the warrant. In them is named the date upon which nomination of candidates will close, and the election must, be held not less than 10 days or more than 17 days after date. Members of the last. House of Representatives, if not re-elected, cease to draw their official salaries on election day, and members of the new House draw theirs from that, date onward, although they do not. exercise legislative functions until the new Parliament meets and they take'Hie required oath and' their seats in the chain her.

The Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet, who technically are members ot the Executive Council, are in a, rather different, position, as are the Speaker and (’hairman of Committees of Ihe House of Representatives. Holders of these offices do not draw salaries as members of Parliament, but are othei wise provided for under the Civil List Act. Members of the Executive Council, as advisers to the Governor-General, retain their offices and salaries until such time as His Excellency chooses other advisers.

I.AST CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT.

In the event., of the defeat of the Government, the Prime ,Minister usually bands in his resignation without, delay, ami the leader of the majority part’,- is summoned. If lie is prepared to form a, Ministry, the new Cabinet, is sworn in. forthwith. Three years ago I he, National Government was defeated on November 27, a Labour Parry caucus was held on December 3, a National Party caucus was held, and the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes resigned on December -1. Air N. J. Savage was sent lor, and the new Ministry was: announced on December 5, and the Ministers were sworn in on December 6. The new Parliament did not meet until the following June. Individual Ministers. if defeated, usually resign at once, ami successors are appointed with as little delay as possible. The Speaker ami the Chairman of Committees, as ullicials of the House, retain their appointments until the new Parliament meets. One of the first duties of the new House is to cleet a. Speaker, and the election of a. Chairman of Committees follows soon after.

Recent legislation providing for the appointment of Parliamentary undersecretaries lays down that, they shall draw salaries otherwise than as members of Parliament. Apparently, tliereL'ore. they retain office in the same way as do Ministers. At present there is only one .Parliamentary undersecretary, Mr .], a. Lee, who is attached to Jhc Minister of finance, the lion. x\. Nash, ami is in charge of the Government's housing scheme.