N.Z. PARLIAMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 22 November 1933, Page 8

N.Z. PARLIAMENT

THE WORK OF THE HOUSE. LONG DEBATES OCCUPY TIME. WELLINGTON. November 19. If ever the day comes for a remoaelliing of parliamentary procedure, one reform which will certainly be chseussed will be the elimination of either the Address,-in-Reply 'debate on the budget debate.

Every session of Parliament is formally opened 'by the Governor-General's ■address, which surveys in general terms the condition of the Dominion, the achievements of the Government, and the legislative measures which it proposes to place before the House. The .first debate of the session on L he motion “That a respectful address be presented to his Excellency 'in reply to his E-x----cellency’s speech” thus gives members an opportunity to discuss a very wide range of subjects. They can, dn fact, without transgressing the rules of the (House, speak on any topic at all affecting the welfare of the Dominion and the administration of its aff a i r s. There is inevitably a great deal of repetition Ln a debate of this kind, and it usually drags on for a fortnight until 59 or more of the 80 members of the House have expressed their views. After the Government and Opposition leaders have spoken in the early stages, the debate becomes merely a succession of speeches by back-benchers, who rarely attempt to debate or argue against the attitude of their opponents, but content themselves simply with stating their own opinions.-

According to the present procedure this whole process i s repeated as it is now being repeated, when the Government's financial statement ig presented to Parliament later in the session. The budget debate usually lasts for another fortnight—though this ' year it may be a little shorter than usual—-and iits net a'cfiult, of course, is nothing.

The shortness of the session this year too has drawn attention to wlrat is regarded as the disproportionately long period which is devoted to general discussions, a-s distinct from discussions of particular legislative measures. Assuming that the session lasts altogether 12 weeks, probably, six weeks or more will: -have- been given over to debates‘dn general topics. An attempt was made this year to curtail drastically the ess-in-reply debate, and although it faded, there are signs tlrt the time is not far distant when either one or other of- these major debates will be restricted or abolished. ' When the House adjourned on Friday evening 20 speakers had taken part in the budget debate, of whom 12 represented- the Labour party, and five the ■GoverHfaent, and three, including. Mr Samuel, .were .independents. The Prime Minister ’has hopes that the debate will be finished on Thursday, but it will not be surprising to see it drift on for another two days. If it is so prolonged the Government will be very, hard pressed to complete its legislative programme and allow the House to adjourn by Christmas'. As'scon a^'flic debate is finished the Government will proceed to the oommbtee stages" of the Companies Bill, Which have been del'yed 'to allow interested parties to make on'the more controversial clauses, such; r as those prohibiting share hawkling a n d limiting the appointment of company auditors. The Government’s summer j Time Amendment Bill, and possibly one or two more- minor measures, will be introduced towards the end of the week. The Summer Time Bill will extend the .period of summer time by about seven Weeks in the year. Among the private bills still on the order' paper the Gaming Amendment Bill will probably -come up fof ddscUss'on within the .next few days, and now that the House is sitting extended hours, its sponsors a.re hopeful of breaking down the obstruction and reaching a division. They are confident that they -have onlv to secure a -division to hive the bill passed. It is understood that the Government regards the bill sympathetically, an d will give it all possible facilities in. the House. ELECTORAL AMENDMENT BILL.

HELD OVER IN'MEANTIME. WELLINGTON, November 20. The Government does not pr°P°se to •proceed this session with the Electora'l Amendment Bill, which extends the liie of Parliament from three to four years, but that iig not to be taken as indie,at•MiK any change in the Government s attitude toward the bill. The Electoral Amendment Bill was one of the measures held over from the last session of Parliament. It was expected to be reintroduced as part 01 the Government’s legislative programme for the present session. In answer to questions to-night the Prime Minister ,(the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) said definitely that the Goveramenr did not intend to proceed with the bill' this Session. Asked whether this delay indicated any change of attitude on Itihe tyairfc of the Government, Mr Forbes said : “No. We are simply holding it over in „the meantime.”