The Press Monday, October 26, 1959. Parliamentary... (Press, 26 October 1959)

On 26 October 1959, The Press reported on the recent conclusion of a notably quiet session in the House of Representatives. This session was marked by its lack of controversy, primarily due to the limited amount of contentious legislation to discuss, aside from the Budget. The House predominantly functioned as a review body, scrutinising and refining government-sponsored legislation. Towards the end of the session, two bills introduced did stir potential debate; however, the Government opted to withdraw these proposals. This decision was not made to sidestep controversy but rather to expedite the session’s conclusion, as Prime Minister Mr Nash prioritised finishing the session over passing the bills. This action raised concerns about Mr Nash's commitment to the legislations that his party had initially supported, especially after the considerable effort that went into drafting and introducing them. Another contributing factor to the session’s tranquillity was the members’ resolve to avoid the inappropriate behaviour that had characterised the previous session. Last year, the House’s late hours often reached nearly 43 hours post-midnight, while this year, members sat for only 17 minutes after midnight. The pace was so controlled that the leader of the House never found it necessary to call for the closure of debate. Despite the peaceful atmosphere, the session was not devoid of productivity; 107 bills were passed, multiple public issues were discussed, and over 50 petitions were received. Nonetheless, the session fell short of the vigorous workflow typically expected in a three-year Parliament. One notable failure was the shelving of the important Crimes Bill, which aimed to modernise criminal law but had already faced two years of delays. Of particular concern were provisions about homosexual practices within the revised bill that prompted further consideration from specific interest groups. The report also highlighted a broader issue regarding the scheduling of Parliamentary sessions. With the General Assembly of the United Nations commencing around this time each year, there is a growing need for New Zealand's Parliament to align its timetable to accommodate international commitments. The suggestion was made that sessions could just as easily commence in February instead of the customary June or July. This adjustment could prevent future sessions from being cut short to allow Ministers attendance at significant global conferences.

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