PUBLIC OPINION

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

PUBLIC OPINION

EXTENSION OPPOSED MR. SAVAGE'S BELIEFS PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO DECIDE [BX TELEGRAPH SPECIAL, REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday "I am confident that if a poll of the people were taken on this measure it would be defeated by about five to one." said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage, when speaking on the second reading of the Electoral Amendment Bill in the House tonight. "People to-day are asking for a poll on this question," said Mr. Savage. "They are taking the only means open to them by signing a petition, and they are doing that in tens of thousands. The petition has been organised by only one man. If he had the machinery to put the petition before all the people of the Dominion, at least three-fourths of them would sign it because they would say that this Parliament should end at the right time and future Parliaments fhould do as they think fit." It was not only the proposed term that was involved in the debate, continued Mr. Savage. There was also the question of the method employed to get that extension. Why not let tho next Parliament deal with the question after the electors had been consulted? "I have been through this country," added Mr. Savage, "and I have said that, given a majority, I will do certain things." The Minister of Finance, Mr. Coates: Your trouble is to get a majority. Mr. Savage: My trouble is that I cannot get a majority, and the Government's trouble is to keep the majority it had. We have not had a majority so far, but we -will wait and see. 1 will not prophesy. I will just fight the battle fairly and squarely and I hope the Government will do the same. "This bill will pass because the Government has a majority which will follow it anywhere. The Prime Minister's generosity is wonderful. He is making all these sacrifices for the sake of future Governments, so that they will not have to face the position his Government is facing. I say let future Governments look after themselves. All that is involved in this bill is the right of self-government by the people." Concluding. Mr. Savage expressed the opinion that it was not* worth while speaking at length on the bill because he knew that the Government had the majority to pass it.

SHARP REPROOF MR. SPEAKER INTERVENES " VEILED SUGGESTIONS " [BX TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday A remark made by Mr. F. Langstone (Labour —Waimarino) in the House tonight during the debate 011 the Electoral Amendment Bill drew a sharp reproof from Mr. Speaker. Mr. Langstone had asserted that tne rights of the people were being sold for pelf outside . "I would like to remind the honourable member that veiled suggestions of what amount to bribery and corruption are most improper and most unfai*, said Mr. Speaker. "That sort of thing should not be tolerated 111 this House. It is the right and duty of any member who knows of anything of that sort to bring it before the House at once, but in a proper and constitutional manner. LEWIS PASS ROAD early completion urged CANTERBURY-WEST COAST [B* TELEGRAPH —SPECIAL REPORTER] WELLINGTON, Tuesday The completion of the Lewis Pass Road, connecting Canterbury with tho West Coast, was urged on the Government to-day by Mr. K. J. Holyoake (Government —Motueka), who asked ,the Hon. J. Bitchoner, Minister of Public Works, whether he had given due consideration to urgent and repeated requests which had been made for the establishment of a working camp on the west coast side of tho Lewis Pass Saddle with a view to tho early completion of the road. Mr. Holyoake said that the route was unquestionably the most suitable by which the east and west coasts could be connected by road and that its early completion would fill a longfelt want in the South Island. The Minister replied that the question was not being lost sight of and that it was being reviewed from time to time, but in view of tho urgency of other public works it was not possible to do anything further than the work 011 the Canterbury side of the pass.