WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 15 January 1935, Page 2

WELLINGTON TOPICS

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.

NEED FOR REVISION.

(Special to the “Guardian”). WELLINGTON, January 10. Among the political predictions that were abroad during the Christmas and New Year holidays, none were more suggestive than were those that appeared in the morning paper under the title of “Recorder.” '“The adjoined session of Parliament”, this authority proclaimed, “will be resumed about the middle of next- month, and it is anticipated that the remainder of the sessional legislature programme will he completed without difficulty, or . any form of ‘dragooning’ the House, in six weeks at the longest.” It this should be accomplished, as Ministers hope it will be, the Ministerial delegates to London during May to attend the Silver Jubilee of the King’s ascession to the Throne will be free, and the Government will be rid of political embairassment for an indefinite period. Tt is too early as yet, it is stated, to determine the personnel of the Dominion’s delegation, but it doubtless is being considered in Cabinet.

At present there is no talk of an early general election. The Cabinet. set that aside a year or so ago, and the Coalition Government having secured its extra year is not likely to hasten to die polls. Such a step is possible, but it is not probable. “None but Cabinet Ministers”, the public is informed, “may give an emphatic answer, but it can be seen plainly enough that there is no talk now about a snap election in mid-winter with an abrupt breakup of the Coalition Government. On the contrary, discussion is confined to the probable date of the opening of the final pre-election session of the present Parliament.” Among Ministers themselves it is thought tliat following oh the autumn session, and in view of all the circumstances, the last session should begin toward the end of July, thus affording the Government ample time for the construction of an ambiguous -policy.

“There is a prospect of brisk politics this year”, says the authority that has been just now quoted. “Such at any rate, is the outlook of several administrators and others whose prophecies are rather more than mere speculative gossip. ... It is interesting to have .ministerial assurance that the visits oi ministers and other parliamentarians to other lands have convinced administrators in the Dominion there is scope for reform here, particularly in the direct ion of investigating the Legislature with more efficient business methods”. Recently an English polftican was astounded during a visit to the New Zealand Parliament to learn that not even the Ministers knew when the final adjournment for the year would be taken. He found difficulty in believing that the end of sessional talk was subject to the caprice of the talkers.

All this taken .in its own vocnbulory may not he very impressive or very inspiring, but it seems to suggest, remotely, that the Government still is beset by difficult problems. Whether the four year Parliament is to be increased to a five year /Parliament in order to bring it into harmony with the House of Commons ; whether the seven year Legislative Council is to be extended to a ten year term, in order that the present House may be extended, or whether the Prime Minister lias returned to his desire to expel the Council altogether and increase the honorarium of the elected Chamber remains to be seen. It will be remembered by followers of history, however, that Sir John Hall, when Prime Minister in 1879, gave it as his opinion that the life of Parliament should he reduced from five years to four. (Mr Alfred Saunders, who was a figure in the House at that time, appealed for annual elections of Parliament in order, as lie stated, that every member of tlie House should be capable? ‘Sr managing his job.)