N.Z. LEGION

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1933, Page 5

N.Z. LEGION

POLICY STATEMENT

GENERAL OUTLINE BY COUNCIL.

(Per Press Association — Copyright.)

WELLINGTON, July 21

The national council of the New Zealand Legion conference this morning, passed the following resolution :

This council views with alarm a statement in the press that the preliminary work of Parliament, when called to-gether, is to consider the Add r ess -v a -It ep I y debate. The council iik definitely of the opinion that the people of New Zealand will resent intensely any prolonged debate on general questions, and that it is the duty of the Government before calling Parliament together, to have all the proposed legislation ready for discussion.

“That the standing orders of the House should be suspended, if necessary to adopt or reject the .Address-in-iteply without discussion or after a debate limited to a few hours. “That the hours should he extended from the beginning, if necessary, and that the whole time of the House should be concentrated on only such legislative measure ns mve urgent to deal with th© present situation.” During the sitting, the conference has been employed chiefly in consideration of plans for the reform of the Government,- new electoral boundaries, unemployment, economic problems, and schemes, 'and other matters which come into prominence in the present critical situation. Owing to the wholly democratic nature of the Legion’s organisation, details of these operation,-, have been left to various divisions, 'and committees to work out, out the main conclusions arrived at will be published subsequently.

THE CHIEF RECOMMENDATIONS

ECONOMIC SYSTEM NECESSARY

WELLINGTON, July 21

The council in a lengthy statement, issued to-day, sets out general lines of a tentative platform. It states its complete plan of reforms contemplated will not be forthcoming until such time as further consideration has been given by all the centres of the Legion to the recommendations. The chief points in the recommendations are:—

Legislative Council :—(l) That the Legislative Council he retained; (2) that it be elective; (3) that the number of members be 24.

Lower House:— (a) That the. number of members in the Lower House be reduced by approximately onethird; (b) that all of the forms and t!ho expressions associated with the party .system he eliminated. The executive: --That the executive be elected, by a method of proportional representation, by the members of one, or of both of the Houses. While not coming to a final decision the council of the Legion lias drawn no a plan in this connection, the important points of which arc;—\a) Supposing that the executive were to consist of seven members including a Prime Minister, five of the Ministers should be elected by the Lower House, and two Ministers by the Upper House; (b) that the- Prime Minister be elected from among the members of the .executive, by both Hones, sitting together; (h) that casual vacancies be filled by botli Houses, sitting . together; (h) that members of the executive, as a whole, or individually, be only dismissed on a specific charge of incompetence, or corruption, etc.

.Electoral districts:—(l) Present electoral districts, corresponding to no natural boundaries, and subject to constant chance, are unsatisfactory; (2) in future the unit of local body government should, as far as possible, coincide with an electoral district, and, in establishing a unit of local body government, the main consideration should be the retention of a conn munity of interest within such unit. Local bodies:—lt has been decided that further study in connection with thi.s question is necessary. The council has felt justified in passing the following resolution, however, “Reform in local body government is urgently required, in order drastically to reduce the number of local bodies, and to co-ordinate local body government on a regional basis.” The council of the Legion have carefully considered proposals in regard to economic questions, but the definite attitude of the Legion in re-' gnrd to them is not to be framed until after further consideration.

The following resolution was passed unanimously : “Thai this council is convinced that a planned economic

system is mweseary for the purpose of co-ordinating consumption and production, with a. view to increasing consumption, and believe that a permanent solution of unemployment is inextricably bound up with problems of economic reconstruction.”

The council discussed the position of women within the Legion, and their general opinion was that no separate women's organisation should he sot up, women being definitely invited to eo-onerato with men and their presence will be welcomed on the cxcutive bodies.

In a. subsequent statement. Dr Campbell Bee.g >v>id the published resolution embodied merely the main rmints. Tie said the Legion was now entering ii io a new phase of intensive activity.