ELECTORAL AMENDMENT

Northern Advocate, 28 July 1934, Page 9

ELECTORAL AMENDMENT

BILL RULED OUT OF ORDER. (Per Press Association.—Copyright.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The second reading of the Electoral Amendment (Date of General Election) Bill was moved in the House of Representatives yesterday by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr M. J, Savage. , The bill was ruled out of order, as it involved expenditure by the Crown, but the opportunity was given to the House to discuss the measure.

Mr Savage said while it might be possible to find reasons for extending the life of Parliament when the country was in a state of war, it was extremely difficult to find reasons for extending the life of the present Parliament, The Government has gone to the country saying it wanted a free hand, but had not told the people it intended to extend the life of Parliament. He did not claim that Parliament had violated the Constitution, but did claim that it had violated the understanding of the Constitution. If members held their seats longer than three years they were no longer representatives of the people.

The debate was interrupted by the rising of the House.

POLICY DETRIMENTAL. TEST OPINION OF ELECTORS. SPEECH BY MR PARRY. (From Our Parliamentary Special.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The contention that the Government’s policy was so detrimental to the welfare of the Dominion that it should go to the poll as soon as possible to test the feeling of the electors was made by Mr W. E. Parry (Labour, Auckland Central) in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon, during the debate on the second reading of the Electoral Amendment (Date of Election) Bill, which was sponsored by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr M. J. Savage. Mr Parry said that when the high exchange legislation was before the House the Government had stated that the raising of the rate of exchange was absolutely necessary in the interests of the farmers, and that once the Government’s action was ratified all would be well with the farmer in New Zealand. They were now told that the farmers were in an alarming position, and the Government was awaiting the report of the Dairy Commission, It was apparent that the Government had no policy of its own, and was just drifting along, to the detriment of the people. There should bo an appeal to the electors as soon as possible. The people from one end of the country to the other were more solidly in favour of. an .election than over thovhad been. ' '

Mr A, Stuart (Government, Bangltilcci): “That is absolutely incorrect.” Mr Parry: “You know nothing about it. Yon do not leave your farm. Those who travel from one end of the country to the other have been particularly impressed by the demand for an election among the farmers. The members on the Government benches realise this fact as much as anyone else. The reason which has been put forward by the Prime Minister for the extension of the life of Parliament is not the real reason.

Mr H. Atmore (Independent, Nel son): “It is fear.”

Mr Parry said that the postponement of the election might be justified on the ground that a state of emergency existed, but such was not the case. The position was gradually becoming worse than it was when the Government assumed office.