IN PARLIAMENT

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 362, 25 October 1932, Page 5

IN PARLIAMENT

("Post" Special Commissioner) .

session sidelights CHEQUERED CAREER OF BIBLE IN SCHOOLS BILL LIMELIGHT ON COUNCIL

Wellington, Saturday. It is not very often that the Legislative Council comes into the political limelight, but this week there was more interest in the proceedings of the Upper House than in the debate in the House of Representatives. The "Lords" as they are sometimes familiarly called in political circles, had under consideration the Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill, which has for years been a contentious .measure, while the Lower House debated the agreement •reached at the Ottawa Conference; whose ratification was a foregone conclusion. The work done at Ottawa had the whole-hearted endorsement of the Coalition, and the Labour Party's criticisms and amendment were loolced upon as being more in the nature of party manoeuvres. The Legislative Council took its

task seriously. Among its mem'hers were several who had played a big part in fonner years in the Bible-in-schools controversy, and the second reading debate lasted for several days. The Council does not believe in hurrying matters, and three speeches generally sufficed for one day's sitting. Right up until the debate started the promoters of the Bill, led by Sir James Allen and' the Hon. L. M. Isitt, were confident that they had a majority, hut the change of attitude by the Hon. C. J. Carrington upset their calculations, and it was found that, without the Speaker, there were twelve for and twelve against. For the second reading division, there were three absentees and pairs were arranged in order that everv members might have the opportunit;? of recording his vote. However, these pairs did not hold for the, committee stage, and as two of the sup- i porters of the Bill were still absent the opposition made short work of thp proceedings. Led by the Right Hon. Sir Francis Bell, the opposition carried two vital divisions, and Sir James Allen, who was in charge of the Bill then gave up the fight. So ended another attempt to amend the intentions of the Education Act of 1877, which laid down that New Zealand's educational system should he "free, secular and compulsory." Members' Terms Expire The Upper House has also been attracting attention for another reason. On Friday next the terms of three members, Sir Heaton Rhodes and the Hons. L. M. Isitt and G. Witty, expire, and the Government has intimated that it does not intend to make any appointments or re-appoint-ments until the whole matter has been investigated hy Cabinet. The Prime Minister has also stated that this investigation cannot be carried out until the recess. In the past the Legislative Council has been filled for the main part with staunch friends of the party in power, but it is realised that this policy has become increasingly unpopular. The late Mr. Massey recognised the need for a reform of the Upper House and he passed an act providing for the election of an upper chamber of forty members on a proportional representation system. This Act is still on the Statute Book, and requires only a proclamation to put it into operation.

The Act and its amendments provided for the election of forty members for a term of five years, and^ the Dominion was divided into four divisions, each' of which had the right to elect ten members. It is not expected that the Government will. put the legislation into operation, hut there is no doubt that Cabinet considers that service to party is no longer a sufficient qualification for a seat for seven years in the Upper House. It has been demonstrated time and again that these men may add lustre to the chairmanship of the provincial party executive, hut that their ability does not always fit them foi* a place in th'e General Assembly. At least two members of Cabinet have expressed the opinion that the Legislative Council should be more or less' of an advisory chamber, and that it should be composed of men who have had experience as ministers of the Crown or have had outstanding careers in commercial life.

Do Not Measure Up It cannot be said that the majority of the present members of the Council measure up to this standard. Members like the Right Hon. Sir Francis Bell, who is looked upon as one of the greatest legal mlnd's Nexv Zealand has produced, and the Hon. J. A. Hanan, who was a member of the National Cabinet during the war, and who is Pro-Chancellor of the New Zealand University, are of the type that some members have in msnd. These men can do valnable work in overhauling legislation which has been passed hy the Lower House, and are capable of expressing authoritative opinions. If the Government makes an effort to set up a second chamber composed pf men of this calibre, it will do much to reinstate the Council in the eyes of the people. After all

the main function of the Upper House, according to accepted political theory, . is that of a revisory chamber, and i:a order that this purpose may he achieyed it is necessary that its membpp should have the necessary qualifications. Although' the Ottawa debate has been finished, the last has not yet hefen heard of this subject. The House' 'pf Representatives has yet to pass t|ie Customs Amendment Bill, embodyjng the resolutions which were passed on October 13, and this measure will giVe • members the right to traverse fhe ramifications of the agreement all over again. Th'e Labour Party will po doubt make another plea on behalf pf the sepondary industries, but until ihe promised customs revision talces plape the Opposition has little to eomplain • about. After all the concessions A&r granted to British manufacturers range only from 2 h per cent. to.10 per cent. At the present time the secorid- .. ary industries of the. Dominion haVe •an extra 10 per cent.' protection oyring to the exchange rate.