LEGISLATIVE MAZE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3100, 13 August 1913, Page 5

LEGISLATIVE MAZE.

(From Odr Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, August 5. The rapid production of legislation in New Zealand is fast creating a complicated maze through which only legal experts can find their way. Members of Parliament, or some of them at all events, are, like ordinary laymen, more or less at sea when the statutes are under review.

This was exemplified in the House of Representatives to-day when the Government’s amendment to the State Advances legislation was under discussion. Several members frankly confessed that they did not know what portions of the Bill were old and what were new, and asked that in future when consolidating and amending Bills were before the House they should bo provided always with an explanatory memorandum and analysis. The Prime Minister approved the 'proposal (which has already been adopted in connection with a number of Bills laid before the House this session), and staled further that ho intended in the case of future consolidating and amending Bills to have the new clauses and provisions printed in italics. This innovation, ho remarked. had been appreciated in the case of one of his Bills which was now before the committee.

Mr Kassel 1 said that this printing in italics was unnecessary, and would be costly. The Prime Minister said that he was not an expert in printing, but would have the matter looked into.