WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 August 1923, Page 3

WELLINGTON NOTES.

ELECTORAL REFORM. 1 ’OSTPOXED I. EG 1 SI. AT lON. (Special to ■‘Guardian".) WELLINGTON. Aug. 20 The Prime Minister's method of rodeeming his forgotten promise* to introduce an Electoral Reform Bill during the present session ol Parliament is not meeting with the approval of eitliei of the parties that constitute His Majesty's Gpposit ion in the House of Representatives. Mr Massey had promised a measure of this description during the short session, lmt apparently the matter had slipped his memory altogether till lie was reminded of it at the beginning of the present session when he undertook to keep his word whatever difficulties might stand in the wav. Earlv on Saturday morning, during the all-niglu sitting of the House, however, he stated that the Bill would nil he passed this session. He vouchsafed the information that it would consist of over lorty clauses, that it would provide for compulsory registration, that it would extend the residential qualification from one month lo ihree months and that it would not he a party nuasute. All this was very interesting in its way. lmt it threw no light upon the rumours of the -Minister’s intention to substitute proportional representation in the city electorates and preferential voting in the rural electorates lor the present first-past-the-post system. DISSATISFACTION. It is the system ot election rather than the methods of enrolment that concerns the opponents of the Oovernnicul. 'They quote the general election of 11:11!. wlieii tin* Reformers secured fortv-foiir seats with a vote which -hould have given them only twciityoivlit or twenty-nine as a "horrid example" of the operation ol the present cliinisv and inequitable system. I hoy also quote Mr Massey’s eulogy ol proportional I'opre-oniation and his promise to substitute something better for Ibe second hallo! bis party voted out nine years ago. There* is reason lo believe, however, that the Bill Mr Masses lias in bis pocket, as lie pul il the oi her day, really does contain more than lie nient ioned 1 i tile House on Sat in day morning. It was put about hv tie newspapers more than a month ago that the .Minister intruded to apply proportional representation to the large r oist it Henries and preferential voting to tlie olliers. and his ow n reticence on the siibieri lias eiieou r: ged I lie idea lion this was either his inlcnlion or ail ingeniously designed kit** to ascertain tlm direction in which I lie wind of public opinion was blowing. fl may lx* that the Reform breeze has been found lo lie an adverse one. ■ THE COUNTRY QUOTA."

Members of the House bad an opportunity to express their opinion ol proportional representation when l lie rki inodes were under eoiisideration on Saiurdav morning. -Mr I*. Eraser proposed that the vote oi 29,021 lor the Eh•( loral Department should be reduced bv C 5 as an ini i■ na! ion that (Tie House desired the principle of proportional repressmlation to he embodied in legislation. In dismissing the motion Mr \Yilford said the I.Moral Party stood for proportional represent at ion v. ii!i the "count rv quota." and look an iot erjm ti* *ii from the .Mar.ler I Juslie,* lo mean (bat Ihe Rails was not IjJe.'lv to get i: . The motion on-brine nut in ilio e-.mmili'".* was rejeeied by :'.7 to 21). Mr Ma-sey remarking when the vot'iig was announced. "There goes preport ioiial represent ai ion." I’m lil.ly l la* Liberals, with a keen eye upon the country enlist it ucnrics, are disposed lo attach over much import am e. I rum ail ch i ! ioneering point of view .to l ■■«' pi':'-ei", .ition of ilia eounirc quoin. 'I Lev would l.c. sure to be penalised ill I he'polls it they deprived the country electors oi I la* 2> per ecu I advantage In represent a lien they ..Main under Hi* exi-tnig sv.st el'l. but in t best' dsi\st ia l < is scan, K a politician with a word te sav in support ol their privilege. THE WEEK'S WORK. Eh!,-' Mr Massey is going to leave Parliament will, a considerable amount work to do alter his departure tor k, onion, the present week will he a very busy one in both the House and Hit* Legislative Council.' 'The Estimates of the Department of Railways and Hie Department of Education still have Io l. got 1 1,rough the IKmse and in ordinary circiim-I mires might easily occupy a couple 1,1 sittings. 'Then then* are seven or eiglil Government Bills at various stages im the Order Rape' and , o-da V The House is 1 1 1 re: 1 1 oiled with a I,riet Gaming Bill and a drhaie on the ;1 1*, eii t Electoral Bill. Of course Mr Massey will get all these obstacles out of 1 1 is wav before to-morrow week, hut lo do ibis there will have to he a particularly sanguinary slaughter of the innocents and a vast amount of lightening legislation. It is being taken for

grant.d that In the end both the Lih-m-al and the Labour Parties will laeilitut,, ihe Minister’s departure, anil any l auliinis nppnsit ion eertainlv would lie re-cutcl by ill,- nublic ; bill these busty pi-oce,-dings do not emit ribute to Hie dignilv m Parliament and partienlarly ,1,, mil emphasis,, the nliliu ol a i>*vi'.ino; ( haiiMior.