LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18253, 23 November 1933, Page 10

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

DECREASE IN NUMBERS SLR J. PARR’S POSITION The acceptance by Sir James l'antor 12 months for the office of High Commissioner for New Zealand m London will involve his resignation as a member of the Legislative Council. Ibis will reduce the Council’s -membership to 20, apart from the Speaker. On only one occasion m tho past W years has the numerical strength dropped to such a low level. That was for a short period in 1918, but that state of affairs did not last very long, for the then Prime Minister,. Mr. Massey, recommended the appointment of an additional 18 members. . An analysis of the records of the Legislative Council back to 1870 shows that, more often than not, the Council has had well over 40 members. In 1873 there were 50 members, and the maxi- [ mum figure was reached ill 1885 and in 1886. in which years 53 members occupied seats in the Chamber. _ There were 25 members in 1917, and in 1918 the membership dropped to the record low level of 20. At no time since then has there been more than 4o mcmbeis. When the Coalition Government came into office on September 22, 1931, tlieic were 35 members in the Chamber, but with the exception of Sir Francis Bell, the Hon. C. J. Carrington, and the Hon. J A. Italian, there have been no reappointments. Sir Francis Bell was reappointed on May 20 last and Mr. Cairnigton and Mr. Hunan on June 16. The reappointment of the present Speaker, Sir Walter Carncrpss, was made on March 17, 1931, several months before the formation of the Coalition Government. . i Four members of the Council arc cute for retirement next year. I hey are Sir •fames Allen, whose term expires on Mav 31 next, Sir Edwin Mitchelson, the Hon. R. Scott, and the Hon. O. J. Smith, whose terms expire on June 24. and Sir William Hall-Jones, who is due to retire on October 5. Sir James Parr has been just over two years in the Council, for he was appointed on October 9, 1931. Incidentally, the appointment- of Sir James is the only one to have been made since the Coalition Administration assumed office. Sir Janies, who is Leader of the Council, will be succeeded by the Minister of Education, the Hon. R. Masters. Mr. Masters has had previous experience of leadership, having filled that positin immediately before the appointment oi Sir James Parr. As Sir James is accepting the rlign Coinrnissionership for only one year, it is assumed that lie will be again appointed to the Legislative Council on the completion of his work in London.