DISCUSSION ON COUNTRY QUOTA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21854, 26 October 1945, Page 2

DISCUSSION ON COUNTRY QUOTA

PREMIER SPEAKS UPHELD MANY INTERJECTIONS POINTS OF PROCEDURE (P.R.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 26. “In removing this vermiform appendix of Toryism the same method is being adopted ns when it was introduced,” said the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, when he spoke on the preliminary stages of the introduction of the Electoral Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives last night. . . Pie was answering an Opposition statement that the Government had no mandate from the people to abolish the country quota. Throughout his speech Mr. Fraser was subjected to loud interjections from the Opposition and had to smilingly protest that he could not answer more than 10 at a time. The Leader of the Opposition, he said, appeared to be unaware in his frenzy that of the four boundary commissioners who acted at the last revision two had died and two more were still available, and there was not the slightest intention that they should be asked to resign. One had been nominated by a previous Government and the other by the present administration. Parliament’s Life Extended In raising the point of constitutional procedure the Opposition, he continued, had overlooked the fact when it was in power it extended the life of Parliament in 3931 on the ground of economic emergency and in face of the strongest opposition from Labour. It had no mandate from the people. The position to-day was that a constitutional error and political wrong were being put right. Mr. F. W. Doidge (Opp., Tauranga): Why didn’t you put it right 10 years ago? The Prime Minister replied that no Government could immediately rectify everything it thought was wrong. He did not care if any section of the community threatened direct action on the political issue. That would not have the slightest effect upon him — (Opposition laughter.) He could find no indication that when the country quota' was first introduced the people were consulted about it. There was a long protest in Parliament in 1801 and again in 1887, when the quota was altered without any mandate from the electors and in abolishing the quota the same procedure was being followed- The next election would consequently be a true referendum of the people on the basis of “one vote, one value” wherever a man or woman lived. “Landed Interests” The country quota, in its intention, was, declared Mr. Fraser, just an attempt by landed to offset the franchise of the multitude. The interests which adopted it would use all the forms of the House to retain it, but he warned them that the same rules could be used against them if there were deliberate obstruction. “You have invited a fight, but you won’t stand up to it,” shouted _ Mr. Doidge during the din of the Opposition interjections.

“The honourable gentleman need not be so bloodthirsty in his suggestions,” retorted Mr. Fraser, who added that the Government, so long as it retained its majority, was entitled to put its legislation through and the Opposition was equally entitled to fight every inch of the way, though in the long run the constitutional law was that the majority was prevail. The principle would be adopted of “one vote, one value.” Opposition members: For the Maori, too?

Mr. Fraser: So far as the European is concerned —(Opposition laughter.) So far as the Maori people are concerned special provision was made for them and, if it becomes an anachonism and obsolete, it is a matter to be discussed with the Maori people. Opposition members: They are four votes.