SOLE LEGISLATIVE BODY

Chronicle (Levin), 31 October 1947, Page 5

SOLE LEGISLATIVE BODY

Press Association)

Committee Set Up To Bring Down Report

(Per

WELLINGTON, 03t. 30. The desirabJity or otherwise oi makiiig the House of liepreBentatives tlie soie legislative aiithorily, is to be investigated by a speciai seleet comtaittee of the House of liepresentatives consisting of seveii Government members and six OppOsition members. The initial steps were taken in the House today when formal uotide was given by the Prime Minister, Mr. Frasefl, of his iiltention to move that the committee be a'ppointed. This is in aceordailce with the Government amendment which virtualiy bedame a resolution of the House, that was adopted at the time the Legislative Council Ab'olition Bill sponsored by the Leader of the Oppo sition, Mr. Holland, was before the -HotiSe. Mr. Fraser gave notice that he intended to move that a seleet committee be appointed consisting of 13 members, to eonsider the desirability or otherwise oi' rnaking the House of Representatives the sole legislative chamber or alternatively, the desirability or otherwise of establishing a revising body for legislation passed by the House of Representatives, and to eonsider any amendment to the procedure * of Parliament which might beeome neeessary thereupon. The committee was to have power to sit together and confer with any similar committee to be appointed by the Legislative Counci] and to agree to a joint or seperate report. The committee is to sit during the recess and to report within 28 days after the commencement of t-he next ensuing session. It will consist of Mr. Speaker (Mr. McKeeil) , Messrs Algie, Bodkin, Finlay, Goosman, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. Holland), Messrs Langstone, Maefarlane, Mackley, Osborne, Petrie. Webb and the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser).