A PARLIAMENTARY EXPERIMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1929, Page 7

A PARLIAMENTARY EXPERIMENT

HUN I NEKS HOURS

FIXED TIMES AND NO CLOSURE.

WELLINGTON, April 15

That New Zealand’s 1 louse of Representatives can do its work in ordinary business hours without tilt; necessity for a closure rule is the firm opinion of Sir .Joseph Ward, the Prime .Minister, who discussed with a representative of the “Lyttelton Times” tonight the proposals he will place he ton? a select c onniittee of the House appointed last session for revision of the standi up; orders. This hodv meets on Tuesday and has an extensive task, with the main objective of securing methods which will enable work to be done oil the following ached tile which Sir Joseph Ward will submit: The house would sit on Tuesday, Wednesday. Thursday and Friday, from 10.110 a.m. till 12.4/5, resume at 2.,T0 and rise for the day at 5.T0 p.m. When it was pointed out to the Prime Minister that former daylight sittings had not succeeded because eighty members contained sufficient groups to enable an entirely fresh set of speakers to appear late in the evening, Sir Joseph Ward replied that the Hours he specified gave the ordinary average hours of a Parliament though' in daylight instead of after midnight. “No person in any walk of life,” argued Sir Joseph, “can expect to be able to arrange the work of Parliament and its many -enili.nl it toes so that the latter, by methodical arrangements, can do their business in four evenings weekly, leaving week-ends clear.”

THE WEEK-END IT A PIT

Sir Joseph Ward has in mind a remarkably large exodus of members which occurs every week-end, because improved communications in the Dominion enable them not only to attend to legislative business, hut keep in al•miost weekly touch personally with their constituents. Friday nights were once the great occasions of Parliament, but business now is comparatively unimportant on that night, because nearly half the members are away.

NO NEED FOR CLOSURE

“1 am dead against any closure rule,” declared Sir Joseph, when this method of facilitating decisions was liientiohedi “I think the hours we sii ought to he named and tho House rise automatically at those times. This would settle everything. I think the aid idea of talking things out is past, and if it does occur it only means prolongation of the session. Even if we did sit a lew weeks longer each year it would he worth while to have business done well. As a. matter of fact the process of legislation by exhaustion is not liked by anyone, and all members will welcome a. system of getting public work conducted more efficiently. I am quite sure that if members of the House are willing to try reason, able hours, though it means prolonging the session a fortnight or a month, it will make for their comfort and more complete legislation.”