ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES TO BE TAKEN OVER BY NEW REGIME

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23116, 1 December 1949, Page 8

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES TO BE TAKEN OVER BY NEW REGIME

PARTY GAINS AND LOSSES

National Gains 8

Labour Losses 7

Ind. Labour Losses

(P.R.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 1. It will be 14 years almost to the day when the Labour Government under Air. Fraser hands over the administration to its successful rivals, the Nationalists, under Air. S. G. Holland. Yesterday's decisive electoral result was, of course, instantly accepted by the defeated Alinistry, but this was on the basis of an informal first count of the votes.

Th-e verdict on which official action has to be taken must be conveyed to the clerk of the writs by December 17. Until the writs are returned to him endorsed with the names of the elected mmbers the position remains officially in suspense.

A very careful procedure must be followed by the returning: officer before giving; their final certificate of the result. All the marked rolls in the polling: booths must be checked against each other to ascertain whether “the law of “one elector one vote” has been observed. At this stage the returning officer incorporates absent voters’ permits and declaration votes, which have to be supported by original documents forwarded from the place In which the voter exercised the franchise. It is considered that at least one week will elapse before the returning officers are ready to commence the final recount. Most of the results will be certified beyond all doubt within a fortnight, which gives reasonable time for the personal adjustments following the defeat of the Ministry—-the vacation of the Ministerial suites and the allimportant duty of the Prime Minister elect, Mr. Holland, of selecting his Cabinet.

The Labour Party developed a constitutional novelty in deciding during its Opposition days that Ministers, if the opportunity came, would have to be selected by members of the Parliamentary caucus instead of maintaining the time-honoured privilege of the Prime Minister elect of selecting all his colleagues. The allocation of portfolios among the caucus chosen Ministers was the only privilege left, to the Labour leader. However, Mr. Holland will revert to precedent and the degree of consultation with elected supporters is a matter solely for his own discretion. He is expected to call an early caucus of his victorious party, but in all probability before that eventuates his mind will be made up regarding the new administration. An early session of Parliament does net necessarily follow this big political upheaval. When Labour swept the Opposition away on the night of November 27. 1935, until it was but a handful of 19 in the House of 80, the new Prime Minister did not hurry the pace of Parliamentary proceedings. However, he showed despatch in preparing for the summons of the Gover-nor-General to submit the names of T-l'is Excellency's new advisers. Mr. Savage did so on December 5, nine ‘lavs after the general election. The new Government immediately announced a dozen clear-cut proposals, mostly involving legislation of a drastic nature, hut il did not demonstrate precipitate haste in putting them on the Statutebook. Bills had to be prepared carefully by the Crown Law draftsmen and discussed by Government caucus. Consequently the new Government was not ready ‘to meet Parliament until March 25, i 936,

Social security, its outstanding policy measure, involved lengthy preparation. There was a Parliamentary investigation of proposals under the-chairman-ship of Mr. A. H. Nordmeyer, then the new member for Oamaru, and the actual legislation was not introduced by Mr. W. Nash until August, 1938, the Governments’ third session. There are points in the National Partv's policy which may call for early legislation notably strengthening measures for imposing discipline on lawbreaking trade unionists. However, this would have to be carefully thought out. drafted in statute form and considered by the Government caucus. Consequently, the most that might be expected in the way of accelerating the sessional programme might be a meeting of Parliament in March, instead .of the normal date at the end of June. London Representative Almost as urgent as Mr. Holland's selection of his new Cabinet is the decision regarding a successor to Mr W. J. Jordan as New Zealand’s High Commissioner in London. Mr. Jordan’s term expired a few months ago and was only renewed until December. Mr. Fraser explaining that it was undesirable to make a longer commitment in view of the pending general election Mr. Fred VV Doidge. the member for Tauranga. is almost certain to be New Zealand’s next High Commissioner in London. His status in the National Pnrtv would undoubtedly warrant inclusion in the new Ministry, but his Qualifications for the London post are so outstanding that lie would utv doubtedlv have the first offer, ft would not involve nolitieal risks because the electoral results showed Tauranga would be n safe National seat if Mr. Doidge resigned to take the London appointment. He accompanied Mr. Holland on his wartime visit to Britain. America and Hie European bnttleivdcls V W OWe commenced work as an Auckland jour nalist in 1903 and was a member of the Parliamentary press gallerv. Fn listing in the First World War. he served in Franco and the development of an information service led to his transfer to the British Ministry of In formation where lie worked under Lord Beaverbronk. The New Zealander attracted the attention of Hip famous newspaper magnate who. after the war. appointed Mr. Doidge to his executive. stnfT. Ilis career in Fleet Street was distinctive. He eventually became a director uf three of the world’s greatest newspapers and when he retired from the. Beaverbronk organisation in lttitti he returned to New Zealand and promptly entered active politics, win nine the Tauranga sea! bv defeating a Labour member in the PJ33 general election.