THE UPPER HOUSE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17917, 22 October 1932, Page 6

THE UPPER HOUSE

THREE MEMBERS RETIRE POSITION AS TO THE FUTURE (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. A definite announcement was made by the Et. Hon. G. \A r . Forbes last night that there will be no reappointments or appointments to the Legislative Council during the present session of Parliament. As a result, Sir Heaton Rhodes, the Hon., L. M. Isitt, and the Hon. G. Witty made their final appearance in the Upper House yesterday afternoon. The term of office of these three members expires on Friday next, but owing to there being no business on the order paper the Council is in adjournment until November 1. The termination of Mr. Isitt’s political career, for the time being at. any rate, coincided with the virtual rejection of the Bible in Schools Bill for which he has been a consistent advocate ever since he took a seat in the Upper House seven years ago. As the Council had no judicial knowledge that these three members would not be re-appointed, tficre were no valedictory references, and they left the Chamber without a word of farewell.

In the early evening, prior to his departure for Christchurch, the Prime Minister had interviews with Sir Heaton Rhodes and Mr. Isitt. It was after these interviews that the announcement was made that there would be no reappointments made from the da*e of the retirement of (hose three Canterhurv members. The strength of the Council will now he reduced to 22, composed of 14 South Island and eight North Island members.

It is stated in some quarters that the Cabinet is planning to make seven or eight appointments during the recess. "it is believed that the Government’s intention is to keep the future strength of the Council at about 30.