WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 July 1933, Page 3

WELLINGTON TOPICS

EAGER.,REFORMERS NEW ZEALAND LEGION (Special Correspondent.) ..." ’ WELLINGTON,. July 25. ■No one who ;has, followed the efforts of Dr Campbell Eegg. and his associates in, tha : New-Zeaffind- Legion can doubt either their, sincerity or ..their zeal in their efforts. t»- improve the . democrat-, ic system of government in this count, ry. The National Council of the Legion sat through three.long .day sessions last week and during that period covered as much ; ground as the House of Representatives might have done in a- month. It has. to ,be admitted, however, that the. Council was a-• .little 1 crude in both .its methods, arid its proceedings and That it still has a good deal to learn before it fullyunderstands the : difficulties, ft has to encounter, and, It may he hoped to overcome. ,In any caes it has made a very creditable ,beginning. The difficulties before it,..,- lmwever ; -are niore than a little,-formidable;• ■ .*?.-• -.

fin EL E GIS LATI VE ; . QOUNCIL The two Houses , of Parliament- with their respective .constitutions, for ia r tanee, .present problems which will riOtj; he easily., .solved within many months, or may be,, within many years. Both Houses were dealt with at the recent . Conference.,),.. With regard to the Legislative Caunpil it was ; , recommended it}iaif ;it -. should be retained,; .that tit should,be,..elective ; that the number of members ■ be twenty-four ; that , the qualifications for membership should be deferred; that the length of the term of office -should he deferred ; that a pro-* c'edufe should he. adopted bv which any measure passed by the,; House of Representatives should • Eventually beheeome law in spite (if rejection by 'the Upper' House-; that cn'sijaT vacancies 'should be fiiied 'by the votes of' the members of tlie Chamber and that Y i'j . • •" f ■' *"* • 1- ■ the Goverrimfent 'should he urged to make' no further 'nominations.; to " the : Council until the' elective principal was adopted. . 1.. ' V,i- ■■ , -

THE HOUSE The suggestions ’-'{3r6pidsed T 'for' the House -of Representatives' a?e' :oit much the same 1 idea a s th ose fbf'the Legisr lative Council. , It dV’ proposed that the number of members for 'tile Lower House shall be , reduced - by approximately one third'; that all tire forms i and expressiohs "associated with the. party' system ■ be" eliminated ; that the term “‘Opposition” and .“Leader of Opposition”' in file technical sense of thpir"expression be'banned; that Ministers sit on either aide of the 'Speaker's chair;; that members be arranged according to their districts or souie scheme; and according to group, allegiance. Suggestions of this kind constitute a good half of the statement distributed bv tlie Executive of the .Legion at the week-end, and it still is a little difficult to understand how it' all applies to electoral reform-: The opening passage of the National Council’s introduction leaves the average not fully convinced.

THE GOVERNMENT The Legion, as already indicated, favours substantial reductions fit ifhe membership of both Houses of Parliament, not so much on account of the cost of the people’s representatives 1 to the State, it would seem, as on account of the obstruction they offer to the business and progress of the country. As to the House of Representatives, it holds the view that all forms and expressions associated with the ‘ party system should he eliminated. It proposes that the Executive be elected by the method :'of proportional representation by the members of one or both Houses and also expresses the opinion that the, present electoral districts; corresponding to the natural boundaries and subject to constant changes, are unsatisfactory. Just how all these reforms are to be . brought about remains to he seen, hut it ■ looks as if quite a number of enthusiasts, a v e seeking to bring about their fruition. ■,