LIFE OF 4 YEARS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19453, 12 October 1937, Page 6

LIFE OF 4 YEARS

PARLIAMENT'S TERM MR. HAMILTON’S SUPPORT TIME FOR LEGISLATION REPLY TO MR, SAVAGE (Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. As the Government had not yet been in office two years and had not had the opportunity to administer its laws to the fullest extent, there was no argument in favour of an early election, the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. W. Hamilton, stated this morning when making a reply to the Prime Minister’s challenge to name the date of the next election. If the Prime Minister wished to involve the country in the expense and confusion of a general election, said Mr. Hamilton, that was his concern and responsibility. Mr. Hamilton also suggested that the tern) of Parliament should be for four years. "As the law stands at present,” said Mr. Hamilton, “the term of Parliament is four years and it is difficult to see what the Prime Minister has: in mind when challenging us to name the date of the next election. The Government has been in office less than two years, and while a great deal of legislation has been placed on the Statute Book, the country has not yet had the opportunity of seeing the full effect of this legislation, nor has the Government had the opportunity of fully administering the laws it has made. Would Not Be Disturbed “As far as I can see no change has occurred which would suggest an immediate election. The Government has a majority in both Houses and may pass any legislation it desires. “I have made it clear on several occasions that the Opposition would not he disturbed by the possibility of an election at any time," Mr. Hamilton continued, “but if the Prime Minister wishes to involve the country in the expense and confusion necessarily associated with an election, then that must be his concern and responsibility.

“General elections should be held at definite intervals determined by the Act, and should be fought upon real issues and not upon political challenges. Politics concern issues not to be played with, for the governing of the country is a serious business. “I feel that this is not the time to raise side issues in the political mind, but it is a time when the Government and Parliament should concentrate upon solving some of the serious problems with which this country is faced." .

Mr. Hamilton said that his opinion was that four years should be the normal life of Parliament, as he considered that four years were necessary for any Government to carry into effect the programme it placed before electors and experience its full consequences, whether good or evil. If the present Government chose to reduce the term to three years, as had been promised by the Prime Minister, that was their own concern.