WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 December 1933, Page 6

WELLINGTON TOPICS

WHAT OF LEGISLATION

RESTORATION OR FURTHER

DECAY?

(From our correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, December 22.

Some time after the formation of the present Coalition Government it was alleged that both Mr G. W. Forbes, the representative of the United Party, and Mr J. G. Coates, the representative of the Reform Party, were pledged to the extension of the term of the House of Representatives from three years to four years. The announcement was confirmed by the two party leaders themselves and it was understood generally that the change in the life of Parliament would be submitted to the House on the earliest convenient occasion. Early in the. present session, however Mr Forbes let it he known that the ousiness he and Mr Coates had in hand would prevent their dealing with the subject until a more convenient season. This is where the intentions of the party leaders stand at: the present time. .

While Mr Forbes and Mr Coates are cogitating over the problem that confronts them it may not be inopportune to glance down the length of Parliaments that have existed in this country since the application of the Constitution' Act of 1854. -The Parliament established in 1854. lasted for sixteen months; that df 1856, , four years and seven months; that of 1861, four years arid four months; that of 1866, four years and three months.; that of 1871, four years arid two months and that of 1876 three years and two months. Since 1876 there has been no Pariamerit that has run over three years, with the exception of the War Parliament of 1915 which ra'n into four yeni's arid, five months, and left Mr Massey fis Prime Minister: in the most difficult position he ever encountered.

It is scarcely conceivable that, Mr Forbes, with his" experience of twenty five years in Parliament, and Mr Coates ivith his twenty-two years in the sable atmosphere, will scoff at their predecessors of• fifty-one years ago, and seize for themselves 'arid their associates, who have been elected for only three years, a fourth year in the privileges of" the House of Representatives.. The present'Prim© Minister' and the present Minister of j. irianee may think their methods are better than Were those' of 'Sir Harry Atkinson, Sir George Grey, Mr William llolleston, Mr John Rallance, Mr Richard -Seddon, Sir /Joseph Ward, Mr William Massey, and hiany other followers of the three yeai Parliament system, but they at least might ascertain the opinion of the electors who at any rate are • entitled to an opinion on the matter.

Then there is the'Legislative Council sadly needing attention. Of the twenty members on the Council’s roll not mor© than ten are really capable of service. A glance at the constitution of the Council for the sixties and seventies of last century, when appointments to the Chamber were for life, will show that quite a number of councilllors laid down their privileges when they had reached advanced years. True the councillors in those days had no honorarium to accelerate their labours, only the opportunities that came their way,' hut few of them stood in the way of younger and more alert patriots. The'latest story is that the Council is to he resuscitated by an influx of desirables nominated by the two branches of the: Legislature.