LEGISLATURE REFORM

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28262, 27 April 1957, Page 8

LEGISLATURE REFORM

Comment On Article In “The Times”

y It was not the declared object of the Legislature Reform League 1 in New Zealand to put pressure on r the Government to redeem 1949 1 General Election promises; the 2 league was a non-party, political ■ organisation which would do what 1 cou ld to educate public opinion “in the need for a second chamber 1 as an indispensable safeguard of ' the rights and privileges of the • people,” the league’s interim

S a J l r . man (Mr D - J - Riddiford, of Wellington) said in Christchurch. ■ “jddiford was commenting on ■ ? c ?£l ed re P° rt of a leading article m" ‘The Times.” i P resent a party in power Prolong its own term of office indefinitely oi, if it preferred, so gerrymander the electorates as to turn a General Election into a farce,” he said. “An effective second chamber could prevent such abuses of power.” Power of Chamber Mr Riddiford said that supporters of the league believed that it was possible to entrench a second chamber in the constitution of New Zealand. The proposed second chamber would have powers of delay only on ordinary legislation but on certain reserved matters it would have a power of veto. Such a matter, for instance as a bill to abolish the Upper House,” he said. “The second chamber could then only be abolished with its own consent. There would be no danger of the Government in power packing it with its own supporters in order to abolish it if there was a fixed number of seats. “The second chamber could be so entrenched that it would be impossible to get rid of it except by revolution. There would, however, be provision for resolving conflict between the two houses in a satisfactory and democratic manner,” he said.

Mr Riddiford said that it was very gratifying that “The Times” had published a leading article on the league and on the question of the need for a second chamber. It was difficult to make a final comment without having read the whole article, but merely a summary such as the cable from London.