LIFE OF PARLIAMENT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18466, 3 August 1934, Page 9

LIFE OF PARLIAMENT

EXTENSION OF TERM PROTEST NOT SUSTAINED LABOR BILL REJECTED (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last night. . The interrupted debate on the second reading of the Electoral Amendment (Date of General Election) Bill was resumed in tho House of Representatives. Mr F. W. Schramm (Lab., Auckland East) said that no mandate was given by the people for a four-year term. It. was found necessary in the interests of peace, order and tranquillity that frequent. appeals should be made to the people. The people would show disapproval when tho time came along. The Government should go to the people at the end of the present year ■with a doflnite plan aud the four-year term as a plank in its platform. Mr J. O’Brien (Lab., Westland) said that the Government should have told the people before last election that such an action was to be takcu, but not onco did it do so.

Mr D. G. Sullivan (Lab., Avon) thought there was scarcely anybody outside of the Government members who desired an extension of the life of Parliament. If the people could lhavo an election earlier than tho end of the present year, they would welcome the opportunity. He believed that if a petition praying for a general election were circulated throughout New Zealand it would be signed by 90 per -cent of the people.;, BLOW AT DEMOCRACY Mr R. A. Wright (.Ind., Wellington Suburbs) said lie intended to vote for the present bill, though ho had also voted for the'Prime Minister’s bill providing for four-year Parliaments. He did so because ho favored fouryear Parliaments. In the present case Parliament had extended its own life without consulting the people.. He contended that the extension of the life of the present Parliament was a 'blow to democracy, .a blow at the rights of the pepole. Mr P. C. Webb (Lab., Bullcr) criticised members of the Cabinet for not taking part in important discussions. He said that the safest way to have a sound Government was to give the people an opportunity of expressing their discontcut. The Government should push ahead with public works such as the Gisborne-Wairoa-Napier and the South Island main trunk railways. If the Government believed its policy was right why should it. hesitate to go to the country, or at least, take a referendum on the subject.

Mr W. A. Bodkin (Coal., Central Otago) said that every Coalition candidate at the election was asked if he was in favor of an extension of the

life of Parliament. He contended that that was done at the instance of the Labor Party, which was well aware of the Government’s intention.

Mr A. J. Stallworthy (Ind., Eden): That’s not correct. BEST INTERESTS OF COUNTRY Mr Bodkin said lie was asked on several occasions, and lie made his position clear. lie contended that, the Coalitiou Government was. entitled to extend its life to four years, by which

time it would have balanced the Budget, and be in a position to give an aecouut of its actions.

Mr lb Semple (Lab.. Wellington East), replying to Mr Bodkin, quoted Hansard, which said that the Prime Minister iu March, after the election, said that the Cabinet had not iu any way considered an extension of the life of Parliament. He said that the question was uever put to Labor members, and ho denied that it was put to other members.

Mr 11. S. S. Kyle (Coal., Kicearton) said that in answer to a question at the eletcion, he had said he was in favor of four-year Parliaments. He believed that when they went to the country again the people would be satisfied that the Government had acted in the best interests of the country. A division was called for, and the second reading was rejected by 3G votes to 29.