ELECTORAL REFORM.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1923, Page 1

ELECTORAL REFORM.

i A CJUTJC'S CHAKOKS. i MU MASSEY'S REPLY. I i WELi.IXOTOX. June J" Speak in;' on the Aihlres.—iii-Repiy j la.-t night, the lion J. A. ilanan (fni vcrcargill commented oil tile frequent j -jell-, ol friction (luring tile debate, j ami the consequent waste oi time that j had taken place, and asked whether ! tie I’riuie Minister was willing to expedite the hiidiu-ss of the session by bringing in a measure lor electoral re- . form. j The Prime .Minister: i will bring in! a Bill before we go to the country J again. ("Oh!" and laughter), | MU IIAXAX OPEN'S THE lIAI.E. ! Mr finnan: I am very sorry that! the Prime -Minister made that reply. I expected him to keep the pmmi-c : made last session. The Prime .Minister: What promise f The Speaker: Order, order, Mr Ilanan: 1 should he sorry to think that he would dishonour the pledge he gave to .Mr Witty. Tlv Prime Minister: Would you? The Speaker: Order, order! Mr Ilanan: Any man with a proper sense oi '■elf-respect who had regard to his promises would comply with the request I am making. If tin? Prime Minister did not comply with it, added Mr Ilanan, he must stand discredited in the eyes of the people of this country. Mr 0. Witty 1 1!icearUiti) asked

tlie Prime Minister last ,session if lie Mould next session In-inn; in and pass a Hill providing for preferential voting at elections, in licit of tlie present lirst-past-i lie-])osl system; and tlie Prime .Minister replied : “In order to remove anv impression which might nmi out to he incorrect, all being well, I intend to give the Mouse an opportunity to dea 1 with ihe <|ttos 1 ion of reform of the electoral system next session.’’ The Prime .Minister: That promise will he kept. Mr llaitan: This session I" The Prime Minister: This session. .Mr llailan: I thank ih‘- Prime Minister tor thiit promise, tie hoped lie Mould Ining i't the measure and pass ii this session. The lien IV. Xosworthy: He didn't sav that he Mould pas- it. (Laughter. I •i WON’T STAND 1-1)1! THAT.’’ Mi liman declared that, the people Mem not in the humour to stand any humbug oil this i|ti<sti(>n. "Tlie eyes

of the | >i ( >) i !>' an* on i !ii-(lnwrmuon I| he derla red. ■Mini they .Vnll’l siand j Tiic I’rinte Minister: I ivmu sia.mli i Ini!. Tin' Speaker: The lion. incinhor > must liol. use Ituimineo. .Mr ]] n 11:111 : I withdraw it. AYlutl j I i-.ity is t ji:tl I lie I'nilil! I'y u 1 11 nut j I -Litutl Stilly I • uni J jii -1 1 liv itny Cm-I I ' 111111 111 ill i'":;:inl to lilii- matter, j I They -i'i' tile slate ali'airs pro- | | tailing i'i \ew Zealand. heeani-o of j | ilit- fit -1 -pa-t-i lie-past. ami they want j i a ii'iilisin J. (Hear, hear.) He would | j tell Hie story nl tile political hypuj i-risy in tepard 1.1 the ahMilinll oi the second hallul. In tile linallcial state-j me it I el' IHI2 It ini' definitely filMin- j isotl that tlic (loveriiiiicut would repeal the second hallot and sid'- f itnle a ! >1 I*l !• 1«It if •I(if . 1 ewtl'lll TK,. f*fl 11 IP

!.i-l ter i'Vctnr.il syMvm. Tha I’l'imn .Minimal- laid dnnlnrad liini-. li in favour <l l il. mill, nt a hy-alai". inn, Sir .1 ami’s Alim had ridindad ilia id.-a 1I..1! Iha f•l>v.■r 11 ma n t wmilil simply n - j I.';il the - milll I>:>lint ami yu l.ach l - first -lui.-l-llia-pnst. lint ilia sarom! 1 1:1 11 1.1 ins ivpnidad liy an oli-.iii alll II • a ill ilia l.ayi'hll i'.a Collllail Hill, atilt 11..■ bill” lulil In ••11 ll'ist iI Iliad for II . • I (li,* I’A IiTY Al)\'.\NT.U;|-:." |i iv;a Hill, lia linn 11 1 a i Had. ilia liyht all \ nail;. In adhere in any -yslain

1. 1 - • IMMMK Ai i Ni'-TKB'S RKI’I.Y. T!if I’iiiue M ini -I •■ r : I warn , Sir. In make I per-oiml c.vpfanat inn. Tin' la n. I Imna n I:;i - iiei-used tin> of a hlvneh nf iailli ill iv-peet In nt.v nu-V.er in Mr Willy'.- i j im- i inn. Mr llaimri: Nu. Tin* Prime .Mmi-itr: N't**-. Air liana!!: I a-l*:t:l ynu it ynll were ■ aii!!*-*, in cam- nut yniu* jnnjllli-I*. Tin* i time \l 1 11 i 1 1• r : ll.* ■-iinyesl.**! tlial i iv.i- lire;* amy my Hold. Aid* Hail,-111: I -aid Ilia I ynll Would lie ii ynn tlitl tint keep l lull pledge. Ti*i* I’rimc .Mini-let: I had fui'entii * n Lha I <j lie -t imi anil that answer. ["Oh." am! laughter,i I don't play 'n v i ticks. I i!ini't hi i helow I la* >c!r. ami the i.in.ini-n will he kepi. ,\: lie lime l Imt Ihe premise was given here was iin intliea I inn iliat the Tmieria! ('nlilei'eiice would hi* held. Ti j iViis n. >l sell led. Mr i 11'< im I: Xnliees were ten! tmi n IVcoiiih'-.r la-1 Tiie Prime .Minister: And T had inimaied iliat it was ainmsl impossible hat I should go in ii. Rni T trill lint | lately Hurds with ihe Imn. geiiileman. I lie prnmise will he kepi. Bui I will aw* in ilmi) either going in i lie C'otiei'ouec nr bringiiidown some of the -*.* i*la l inn which I have iuieiided n htilpj; hefnl'e I’ll rl ill nil'll t .