ELECTORAL BILL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 August 1924, Page 5

ELECTORAL BILL.

A CONTENTIOUS MEASURE. OPPOSED BY LABOUR. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) WELINGTON, Aug. 12. The discussion on the Premier’s motion that the Legislature Amendment Bill he introduced and read a first time was (resumed in the House this afternoon. The motion was opposed by the Labour Party, who attempted to further delay the Bill by raising a point of order that the debate could not proceed at that stage, but this was disallowed by the Speaker. Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland East) said there was going to be no surrender about- this Bill until sanity prevailed and the measure was withdrawn cir killed. A Bill of this kind ought to make provision in several directions, l'or instance, provision should be made to prevent any party from putting a label on a man against his wishes. There should also be a provision against corruption, and some limit shoifTd be placed on the amount of money outsiders could expend on the election of a candidate. 1

Mr J. W. Munro (Dunedin North) said the Bill showed that the Government recognised that the writing was on the wall, and that its days were numbered. The Leader of the Liberal Party, bv announcing his support of the Bill, had committed political suicide, for it meant the extinction of the Liberal Party. Labour would only support an electoral system based on scientific principle.

Mr P. Fraser (Wellington -Central) said that in 1911 the irrime Minister had favoured prouortional representation and put it <in his platform. He had suggested using it in connection with the Legislative Council. That promise had not been fulfilled, and he wished to give the Premier another opportunity of fulfilling Ins programme. He therefore moved that the short title of the Bill be the Dominion Proportional Representation, Abolition of the Legislative Council and Maori. Representation Amendment Bill. The amendment was seconded by Air IV. J. Jordan (Manukau), who was continuing the discussion when the House adjourned at 5.30 p.m., and the Bill was not introduced.