PARLIAMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21879, 15 August 1934, Page 13

PARLIAMENT

FOUR-YEAR TERM PERMANENT EXTENSION DISCUSSION ON BILL lABOri? 'AGAINST CHANGE DIVISION NOT REACHED . fur Tnr.r.GRAPH —spFrtAT, REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Tuesday The prooosal to extend the life of future Parliaments from three years to four was debated once again in the Hnise r>f Renrescntatives ,v.hen the Electoral Amendment Bill came forward for second reading. Two yenr.<= rt£ro an amendment was passed to provide for the postponement of the next general election from 1933 to 1934. and an attempt to repeal that provision, made bv the Leader of the Opposition. Mr. M. .T. Savage, was defeated earlier this session. The bill to make the extension apply to future Parliaments was drafted shortly after the life of the current Parliament was lengthened, but there has been no suitable opportunity until this year to introduce the measure. * Mr. Forbes' Points At every stage of , its progress through the House this session the Electoral Amendment Bill has drawn Labour fire, with the result that tonight's debate traversed worn channels. The main argument advanced by the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, in moving the second reading, was that under the changed economic circumstances, the term of three years was too short* to enable a policy to be completed. It was unfair, he claimed, to judge a Government and the members supporting it on an unfinished programme. He pointed to examples of four and fiveyear Parliaments in tnost other countries and said there was a move in Australia, where the term was three years, to secure an extension, particularly in Victoria. In resisting the bill, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage, did not criticise Mr. Forbes' contention that three years was too short a term, but he took a stand on the ground that the people should be consulted before a change was made. He asserted that a poll of people to-day would result in the rejection of the proposal by a five to one majority, and cited the wide support given to a petition urging that the present Parliament should be dissolved at the dat«> originally intended, namely, the end $f this year. Importance of the Issue Mr. R. Semple (Labour —Wellington East), speaking later, conceded that the actual term of Parliament was a debatable question, but said the public should be 1 asked for their advice on such an important constitutional question. The adjournment was taken without the division being reached. The House met only for half an hour this afternoon. After formal business had been taken, Mr. Forbes moved a motion of sympathy with the relatives of the late Hon. Dr. W. E. ■ Collins, M.L.C., and several members had joined in paying tributes, the House adjourned until the evening. Ministerial answers to questions will be circulated and discussed to-morrow, after which private members' bills will be considered.

BAYSWATER PETITION " BETTER FACILITIES SOUGHT TELEPHONIC AND POSTAL [BV TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON. Tuesday A request for improved telephonic and postal services at Bayswater was made in a petition presented to the House of Representatives to-day by Mr. A Harris (Government —Waitemata). The petition stated that do public slot telephone in the suburb and as the post office closed at 5 p.m. a serious position would arise in an emergency, such as the summoning or a doctor.' as the nearest slot telephone was at Belmont, a mile away. • Complaint was also made at the tact that tnere is only one letter delivery dailv. As a result, letters arriving from the'south by/the limited express were not delivered until the following da>. NEW OVERSEAS MARKETS INQUIRIES BY COMMISSION GOVERNMENT'S INTEREST

[by telegraph—press association] > WELLINGTON, Tuesday A question dealing with export trade possibilities was asked in the House o Representatives to-day by Mr. 1. • de la Perrelle (Government— Awarua). Mr. Perrelle asked, seeing there was a prospect that the exportable production of New Zealand entering Britain might be limited, if the Government would give serious consideration to the exploration o& new markets, such as Japan, Russia and America. The Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, replied that the question of the extension and development of New Zealand s overseas markets had been under c° n " sideration for some time by the ernnient. With a view to having the possibilities investigated, the question of the practicability of extending exists ing markets and establishing new onps vas included in the order of reference of the Dairy Commission, which would report at an early date. When the commission's report had been received, the question would be further considered u.v the Government in conjunction with the commission's other recommendations.

PROTECTION FROM FROST USE OF SMOKE BOMBS MEMBER • SEEKS INFORMATION [by TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The possibility of protecting fruit crops against frosts by means of smoke bombs was mentioned by Mr, W. A. Bodkin (Government —Central Otago) in the House/of Representatives to-day. Mr. Bodkin drew the attention of the Hon. C. E. Macmillan, Minister of Agriculture, to a newspaper account of the use of smoke bombs in. Franco for that purpose l Such a bomb, costing £3 12s, could throw a smoke screen 30ft. high over 20 acres of vines, guarding the vines against spring frosts, and because of its sulphate of ammonia Content, assisting, fertilisation. Mr. Bodkin gave notice/ to ask the Minister if he would airange for his department to institute inquiries about the method and bring the result of his investigations before the notice or the fruitgrowers of Central Otago.