RAGLAN ELECTION
UPPER HOUSE APPOINTMENTS AUCKLAND, February 13. “Why is it that when people, especially old men, are rejected as members of Parliament by either the Labour or National Parties they find their way to the Upper House?” was the text of a question put in a thick Scottish buri' to the acting-Prime Minister, Mr. Nash, . when he addressed a meeting at Glen Massey in support of the Labour candidate for the Raglan seat, Mr. A. C. Baxter. The questioner wanted to know why the Labour Party; had not fulfilled its pledge to abolish the Legislative Council and asked whether it was a way of giving a member a pension. Mr. Nash admitted that it had been the policy of the Labour Party to abolish the Legislative Council and added that he did not think this had been changed. He pointed out that constitutional procedure laid it down that it was necessary for both the House of Representatives and the Legislative Council to pass an Act to abolish the Council.
“In other words, the Legislative Council would halve to vote itself out,’’ said Mr. Nash. “I question whether it would be worth while creating such a crisis. We could follow the example of Queensland where members of the Upper House formed a suicide club and voted themselves out. If we found that the Upper House was blocking the policy of the Government then we would organise a suicide club here. Mr. Lee Martin is a useful man. He has a wide and valuable experience of dairying and
agriculture and was no reject ” “Mrs. Dreaver wa§.” persisted the interjector. “Yes, she lost her seat at the last election, but we thought it worth while to have two women in the Upper House,” replied Mr. Nash. “The second is Miss Anderson. Rather a fine woman—in both cases.” “You were put there to do a job and you weren’t game to do it,” said the interjector.
“But look at what we have done,” retorted Mr. Nash.
“You have not done your job,” the interjector insisted. “The miners were promised a sevenhour day, what has happened to that?” asked another member of the audience.
“I don’t want to argue the rights and wrongs of that case, but I hope the industry will not press for this until we solve some of our production problems,” said Mr. Nash.
“I am a farmer —what about a seven-hour day for me?” asked a third member of the audience. Salaries for members of Parliament and whether the high rate of company taxation was responsible for the tobacco shortage were am'cng other questions put to the Minister before a lively but friendly meeting ended.
There were about 110 people present and a unanimous vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Nash and Mr. Baxter.
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Bibliographic details
Grey River Argus, 16 February 1946, Page 5
Word Count
465RAGLAN ELECTION Grey River Argus, 16 February 1946, Page 5
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