REFORM OF UPPER HOUSE BEING CONSIDERED

Grey River Argus, 30 January 1948, Page 5

REFORM OF UPPER HOUSE BEING CONSIDERED

WELLINGTON. Jan. 26

Constitutional reform committees, representing both houses of Parliament. will pobably start about the middle of March an investigation into the desirability of making the house of representatives the sole legislating authority in New Zealand. Preliminary arrangements for the joint sittings of these committees and the procedure to be followed are to be made by a small joint sub-committee which is expected to meet on February 3. During the last session of Parliament both the house of representatives and the Legislative Council appointed select committees to consider whether the Lower House should become the sole legislative authority or whether a revising body for legislation passed by the house of representatives should be established.

The committees were empowered to 1 consider any amendments to the procedure of Parliament which might be necessary. They were given authority to sit together and to agree to a joint report or separate reports. The decision of the House to appoint such a committee was incorporated earlier in a Government amendment to the second reading of the Legislative Council Abolition Bjll sponsored bv the leader of the opposition (Mr S.G. Holland). A select committee was also appointed to make an inquiry during the recess into the motion picture industry in New Zealand, and it is expected that this ‘committee will begin its sittings in the first week in April. Another committee was appointed by the House to consider what emergency regulations should be retained and the present arrangements are for this committee to meet next month.

The lands Committee was also' authorised to visit Waipoua Forest and adjacent areas during the recess and to report to the House next session on future of the forest. The committee has alredy inspected the forest and will resume its sittings shortly before the start of the next session to draw up its recommendations for submission to the House.