HURRIED LEGISLATION?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 276, 20 November 1937, Page 7

HURRIED LEGISLATION?

I.C. AND A. AMENDMENT REFERENCE IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL [ Per Tress Association. ] WELLINGTON, Nov. 19. The Companies (Special Liquidations) Extension Bill and the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Amendment Bill (No. 3) were passed in the Legislative Council this afternoon. The Physical Welfare and Recreation Bill was read a first time. When the Leader of the Council, Hon. M. Fagan, asked for the I.C. and A. Amendment Bill to be put through all -stages, Hon. F. Waite raised the question of hurried legislation. The Council was being asked to amend an Act that had been passed two days before, Mr. Waite said, and he wanted to draw attention to the position that had been created. He quoted an extract from Hearn’s Government of England wherein it was argued that strict observance of the rules of procedure was a means of protecting the rights of the minority. Mr. Fagan said that Mr. Waite’s remarks had no application to the Bill under discussion. He agreed with the authority quoted but submitted that the dangers referred to could not apply to the Council because, unless legislation was of unusual urgency, urgency was not requested. The Bill before the Council had to be passed so that the work of the second Arbitration Court could commence next week. Arrangements were being made to appoint assessors and he was in a position to state that Mr. W. J. Hunter had accepted the position of Judge.