TERM EXTENDED

Southland Times, Issue 22449, 12 October 1934, Page 8

TERM EXTENDED

LIFE OF PARLIAMENT BILL PASSED BY UPPER HOUSE SECOND READING DEBATE (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, October 11. The sanction of the Governor-Gen-eral is now all that is required to make the life of future Parliaments longer by one year, the Electoral Amendment Bill having been passed by the Legislative Council to-day. On the motion of the Leader of the Council, the Hon. R. Masters, it was agreed that the Bill be put through all its stages at the sitting. Referring to the second reading debate on the measure, the Hon. T. Bloodworth said that a far more important change than an extension of Parliament life was reform in the procedure of the legislature. The real problem of the Government was the problem of educating electors in the economic and sociological affairs. What was required was educated democracy and on the extent of the education would depend a continuance of democracy. He did not object to an extension of the term. It destroyed the precedent of one Parliament extending its life for one year and as the Minister had stated, the Act would not operate before the next "eneral election. Four years in his opinion was a reasonable term. It was suggested by the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre that the amendment should be adopted repealing the Legislative Council Act of 1914 which enactment no Government had yet seen fit to bring into operation. He considered that if the people were consulted, they would not be in favour of an elective upper house as provided for in that measure. Mr Masters replied that the matter was one of Government policy that required more than immediate attention, and one concerning which he could not take the initiative. He would, however, discuss the question with the Prime Minister and if the Government wished to repeal the Act referred to, a clause could be promoted in the lower House. The Bill was put through the remaining stages and passed.