LEGISLATURE ACT.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 November 1920, Page 5

LEGISLATURE ACT.

AMENDMENTS TO THE LAW.

CIVIL SERVANTS MAY BE M.P.'s. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. In the House of Representatives today, Mr. Massey moved the second reading of the Legislature Amendment Bill, which postpones for six. months the proposed election of Maori members on the same basis as European members, owing to the difficulty of getting the Maori rolls prepared. Other clauses widened the definition of "a contractor" under the Legislature Act, lflOS, and this was rendered nejessary owing to dealings between the Government and members of the Legislature during war times. It was also proposed to widen the margin allowed the representation commissioners in allocating the boundaries in electoral districts to 1230, so as to preserve a greater community of interest.

Several members protested against the latter amendment as further accentuating the evils of the country quota. It was, they said, an outrage on democratic government.

Mr. T. M. Wilford (Leader of the Opposition) agreed with extending the discretion of the representation commissioners, but thought the proposed margin was too wide. He deprecated the proposal to allow members of Parliament to deal with the Government. If .special cases were affected by war dealings then they should be specified and a validating Act passed. Tlie Hon. E. P. Lee denied that the amendment extending the discretion of electoral commissioners involved the question of the country quota at all; it affected only the community of interest, and had been asked for by the commissioners themselves, who declared they could not carry out the provisions of the present Act without it.

Mr. Massey strongly supported the proposed increase in marginal discretion being given to the electoral boundary.

The Bill was read a second time,

In committee, the clause widening the definition of "a contractor" was, on the motion of the Premier, struck out. Mr. Massey moved a new clause giving public servants the right to become candidates for Parliament. This was agreed to on the voices.

Mr. ilassey moved a new clause extending the margin of discretion which the representation commissioners may exercise from 550 to 1250 electors, in order to better preserve "community of interest" in new electoral districts.

Mr. D. G, Sullivan (Avon) objected to giving the commissioners power to make so great a reduction in the strength of country electorates as was* possible under this' proposal, and which could be used to the detriment of city electorates. He could not agree to anything that would increase the disproportion between the country and the ritv. Mr. ,T. McCombs (L-yttelton) then moved a new clause providing for the adoption of proportional representation, but this was lost by 40 votes to 23. Mr. McCombs moved a further amendment enabling women to be appointed to the Legislative Council, but this was lost on the voices.

The Bill was then reported without amendment, read a third time, and passed.