FEWER MEMBERS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 370, 11 March 1932, Page 8

FEWER MEMBERS.

Smaller Parliament is Recommended. COMPARISON WITH BRITAIN. (Special to the " Star.") WELLINGTON, March 11. A reduction in the size of Parliament could well be made, according to the report of the National Expenditure Commission. In its interim report the Commission points out that if the membership of the House of Commons bore the same ratio to the population of Great Britain as does the House of Representatives to the population of New Zealand, the membership of the House of Commons would be well over 2000, whereas actually the membership is less than one-third of this number. The Commission also believes that the size of the Legislative Council could be reduced. In discussing the permanent appropriations dealing with Parliament, the Commission, after referring to the disproportionate position in comparison with the House of Commons, says:— “ We do not suggest that so drastic a reduction as one based on those figures would be possible in New Zealand, but feel that the membership might well be reduced. “ In recent years there has been a marked improvement in transport, and members can under present conditions travel with greater freedom and rapidity through their electorates than they could some years ago. This leads to the conclusion that in quite a number of cases the size of electorates might be increased. We accordingly recommend the matter for consideration. We are also of the opinion that a reduction in the number of members in the House of Representatives should be followed by reduction in the membership of the Legislative Council.” Members’ Honoraria. The Commission considers, for the sake of uniformity and to conform to the traditional practice of the British Parliament, that honoraria to members of the Legislature, with the exception of the salaries of the Speakers of both Houses and the allowance to the Speaker of the House of Representatives. should be provided by annual ap propriation rather than by permanent appropriation. It recommends that, with the above-mentioned exceptions, the honoraria to members of the Legislature, with the present statutory limitation. be included in the annual appropriations. and that the relative provisions of the Civil List Act. 1920. be amended accordingly. Tt also considers that the salaries of the Clerks and Clerk-assistants of both Houses should be provided by annual appropriation.

“Although it is strictly not appropriate to the present item, we would mention that the expenditure under Vote, Legislative Department, in 1913-14 was £43.700.” adds tfie Commission. “ whereas for the year ended March 31. 1931. the expenditure was approximately £99.000. The increase in the annual cost is really not as great as the figures indicate. due to changes in accounting methods.”