LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1931, Page 5

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

THREE TO RETIRE. WELLINGTON, March 7. Throe members of the Legislative Council are due to retire within the near future and one’s term of office has already expired, but in an announcement yesterday the Prime Minister. Rt. Hon. G. AY. Forine, said that no appointments would be made in the meaniTme except in the case of the Speaker of the Upper House, Sir Walter Carncross, who would be reappointed for another seven years.

Sir Walter Carncross is to retire from the Legislative Council on March 17, but according to the Prime Minteter’s decision he will retain his seat. Tho term ot office of Sir Frederick Lang, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, expired on February 22, and he will ! be thie first to lose his sent under the temporary ban on reappointments. Sir Frederick lost his seat in the House to Mr W. J. Jordan, the present Labour member for Alonukau, in the general election of 1922. In addition, the Hon. A. S. Malcolm and the Hon. V. H. Reed are to retire from the Legislative Council on June 17, having served seven years, and neither of them will he reappointed if the present decision is adhered to. On the reassembly of the Upper House it will be necessary to elect a new chairman of committees in place of th e late Hon. J. Barr. It is considered likely that the Hon. G. J. Smith will be elected as he has acted as chairman of committees in the aUsenee of Air Barr.

The present strength of the Legislative Council is 39 members, and this number will be reduced to 3(3 if no appointments are made' to fill the vacancies caused through retirements falling due. Six appointments were made lant year on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, tho new members being the Hon. R. Masters, now Alitester without portfolio and deputy-Leader of the Legislative Council, the Hon. D. Buddo, the Hon. M. Fagan, the Hon. R. McCalUim, the Hon. AV. Stevenson and the Hon. J. Trevithick.