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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 17 March 1908, Page 2

Conversing with a reporter of the "Otago Daily Times" Mr D. Reid, M.P., expressed a preference for Parliaments of five years duration instead of the present period of three years. "1 certainly think that the three-year system is not the best," said the member for Taieri;- "but whether it ought to be five years, or perhaps four years, is a matter for consideration. The people say : 'Now that members are about to go before bhe country they naturally want to have the time extended, and not to have to go to that trouble.' It is altogether apart from the aspect of the subject, however, that I am speaking. 1 think the quinquennial Parliament would tend to better legislation and to less interference with the affairs of the country. Ido not think the public interests would suffer, because if some vital questions came up that had not been considered by the electors at the time nembers were returned the Governor, in the case of any change of political power in the House, would certainly grant a dissolution at the request of the party that was going out of power, and ths't would mean that although a. Parlia^ *rt might last five years, dt would prcb-.!.i>. not run so long as that. We know that in England Parliaments are elected for seven years, although they may not last for that time, because a change of circumstances comes perhaps in five years, and a fresh election is then held". In that way ths views of the electors are always tak«n,"