The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1937. LIFE OF PARLIAMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 August 1937, Page 4

The Guardian (And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times.) FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1937. LIFE OF PARLIAMENT.

The Prime Minister has announced a. general election next year. This is conformable with the resolve and the promise to revert to three year parliaments. The late Government in view of extraordinary circumstances, extended the life of Parliament to complete their legislation, and that injunction is still on the statutes. In the coming session it is proposed to remove the four year authority and revert to the three year term. So much interest is now manifested in politics, and so much reform or' Advanced legislation is being enacted, that its earliest review at the ballot box will be approved generally. There is the point, .however, of the cost involved with more frequent elections, and the upset to the course of parliamentary work. Invariably there are a number of changes at a general election, and the first session js considered the occasion to break in the new memberV and give the Cabinet time to formulate its policy measures. The midsession of the term lias been regarded as the real work session of the Parliament, the final session being in the nature of a- clearing up. On the .whole, the longer term Parliament appears the more . economical and moreworkable as giving time with an extra session to • work out a policy more fully and carefully. However, Mr Savage lias behind him a party strong enough to enact the proposals brought down, and if three years are decided on as the duration, it will pass into law. What would be more acceptable regarding Parliament, at least so far as the South Island is concerned, is to see the Prime*' Minister undertake the fixing of the limit of number of members for each Island, and .so avoid the cost of recurring representation commissions to allocate the representation on a population (with quota; basis. The definite fixing of the number would ensure boundaries being stabilised, and each constituency be a permanency for a period, instead of liable to change following each census. The representatives, too, would have a settled domain with a satisfied know, ledge of where boundaries ended, On the licensing issue also, it would be definite that those areas which had voted no license would retain their status till the vote were reversed, and there would ho no injury done to small areas being moved into a no liconstarea from a licensed area, without any remedy by way of effective protest. A settled state of affairs as to representation would have a. good effect with members who would be secure in their knowledge of the requirements of their districts, without at times having fresh country with changed interests or industries passed in to unite with different, and perhaps conflicting, local interests. This is a matter likely to be broached at the coming session and sympathetic consider ation by the Prime Minister on the subject would be appreciated.