ELECTORAL BILL BLOCKED

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1924, Page 1

ELECTORAL BILL BLOCKED

(" LvUolton Times” Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON. August 12. “1 thought he was a. ‘goner, but the cat came hack the very next day, remarked .Mr J. A. Lee (Auckland East) when, after hall an hour s discussion on the standing orders of the House, .Mr Speaker ruled against Al.r Fraser 1 Wellington Central), and allowed Air Ala soy to make his third ititile attempt to bring down the l-egis-Inture Act Amendment Bill. It had been argued, by Air 1 laser that the interrupted debate on the question ought to have been put lasi in the list ol business.

.Mr Lee said the eat was going to <•01110 liaek :i frm«l ‘leal until sanity prevailed, ami the liill was withdrawn or killed in the lobbies. lie thought a ■Lcglisature liill ought to lntito pmvision in several directions, hoi instance provision should lie made to prevent any party from putting a label on a man against his wishes. There should also he provision for the prevention of corruption, and some limit cn the money outsiders could expend on tile election of a candidate. MVMunro (Dunedin Xrotlw said they had given the Government a run fot its money as far as the liill was concerned. and it would have a. still greater run. The Government, in bringing down the measure, recognised that the writing was on the wall, and that its days were numbered. There was going to he an execution, for the public bad found Reform guilty. How would the country put the verdict into operation? A .Member: Kloetrocution. Mr Muiiro: No. Hy a system of electoral reform, but not that by which the Government was trying to hoodwink them, lie had a strong suspicion that Labour was playing the Premier’s frame in trying to head off the measure The Liberal leader, in announcing bis support of the Mill, had, "> Hr Mmini's view, committed political suicide, for it meant the extinction o! the Liberal Party. Labour would only support electoral reform on the most scientific footing possible. Mr Fraser said lie was sure the Prime -Minister must realise that the Mill did nor meet with the genend approval of members, and as he was ./ reasonable man. -Mr -Massey would surely make alterations to the proposal's. and so make them acceptable. The Mill at present was neither list, tlesh. fowl, nor good red herring, tic moved 3,1 amendment to the effect tha • the name of the Mill be altered to “I e-'islature Amendment. Dominion Proportional Representation, Abolition of Leglisative Council and Maori Representation Amendment Bub ihe proposal, he said, was tha* the House should declare now that it eras in favour of these things. Mr Jordan seconded the amendment, and emphasised the fact that the Legislative’ Council repeatedly rejected measures passed hy the House ot Representatives. The dinner adjournment interrupted the debate for the third time, Labour members having again barred the progress of the Bill.