PARLIAMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 24 July 1924, Page 5

PARLIAMENT

EXTENSION OF AIORTGAGES. BILLS INTRODUCED. THE ELECTORAL BILL. V BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) V ELLINGTON, July 23. The House of Representatives'met at 2.30 p.m. Ihe Justices of the Peace Amendment Bill was read a second time pro forma.

Mr G. Witty (Riccarton) asked the i 1 inie Minister if he would alter the o m 6 of lus Mortgages Final Extension Bill from December 31 to Alarch 31 He pointed out that at the end of the year very few iarmers had any money at all, but by Alarch 31 they had their gram in sight, their wool was in, and many of their lambs were away, so they would then lie in a position to better meet • their 3Viovto;agos, Air Massey said lie .could not alter the Bill at this stage, blithe would consider the suggestion, and an amendment might be moved at the proper time. '

Replying to Air AY. E. Parry (Auckland Central). Air Alassey said he proposed to ask the committee to take up the Licensing Bill where they dropped n-ii i He imposed 'that, the Bill should he drafted on the lines of the committee s recommendations and submitted to the House. Replying to Air J. AY. Munro (Dunedin North), the Hon. AY. Nosworthv s;ud the Government, had fully eonsiuohkl all the facts ot the case before deciding to exclude Californian soil products, from the Dominion, and they were not now prepared to alter their original decision.

the following Bills were introduced and read a first time: Harbours Amendment Bill (Air H. T. Armstrong), Rent Restriction Bill (Hon. G. J. Anderson), fehops and Offices Amendment Bill (Air R. McKeen). In connection with the Legislative Amendment Bill introduced bv the Inme Munster, Mr H. E. Holland (Leader of the Labour Party) said he hoped the Bill would not be persisted in. He presumed it was the same Bill as introduced last session, and if so it 'V as simply an attempt to jerrymander the elections. If the Bill proposed to establish proportional representation on if P ro P er basis it would receive the whoie-hearted support of the Labour 1 arty but they would not support this by bud Bill , w-hich no doubt sought to give the Reform Party what representation they considered they were entitled to m the cities, while they were to hold their present privileges in country electorates. He traced the political development of New Zealand'from the state ot a Crown colony to show the whole tendency had been to struggle for democratic principles. This Bill was not democratic, and he could not supP°Y, as k e( l what would happen it the Bill became law. Air Alassey: AVhic-h Bill?

, Holland: The Bill the Prime Alinister is asking leave to introduce. Mr Alassey: You have not seen it. Air Holland : Ff we have not seen it then a breach ; of faith has been committed so far as this House is concerned.

Air Alassey: No, that is not- so. Mr Holland contended that was so, because on the last day of last session the Alinister for Customs placed it on the table in the form of a Parliamentary paper to enable members to make themselves acquainted with its terms before being called upon.to deal with it. J- -Y Hanan (Invercargill) said the introduction of the measure showed that the Government recognised that the first past the post system was unfair and undemocraic. He would support the measure, as it meant that the people would have a wider range of choice of representatives. He hoped the Government was not indulging in a piece of pretence. Mr G. AY. Forbes (Hurunui) said they would have to wait to see what difference had been made in the Bill since last session. Air Alassey: I did not say it was the same Bill. I said it was not necessarily the same Bill. Mr AI. J. Savage (Auckland Central) said he supported proportional representation, which was better than the proposal in the Bill or the present system. He would, however,* nrefer the present system of first oast the oost to the proposal in the Bill. Air T. AI. AVilford (Leader of the Opposition) said the Liberal Party believed nothing was so necessary as'electoral reform, and they believed in proportional representation, with the maintenance of the country quota. If the Bill contained what the Bill which ivas brought down last session did he would support it, believing it would provide the thin edge of the wedge. All- R. McKeen (AYellington South) was siieakmg against the BilL at 5.30. and as the debate was not concluded when the House adjourned a motion to introduce the Bill was not out by tlio Speaker. Prior to the delivery of the Financial Statement in the evening. Mr T. K. Sidey (Dunedin South) asked for an assurance that his Summer Time Bill, Inch was being displaced owing to the Ificfc'that the Budget was not delivered last night, would not - he prejudiced. Air Massey gave this assurance. The delivery of the Financial Statement, occupied the whole of the evening sitting, and tlu> House rose at 9.17 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. to-morrow.