MP cuts bad for NZ says expert

By Audrey Young

political reporter

Reducing the number of MPs to 99 would be bad for democracy, says MMP specialist Professor Jonathan Boston.

"The only potentially valid argument is that it would save money. However, any savings will be greatly outweighed by the harm such a move would cause," he said in a Wellington debate last night with the New Zealand First leader, Winston Peters.

New Zealanders will vote on cutting the number of MPs back from 120 in a citizens-initiated referendum alongside the general election.

Parliament grew to 99 MPs under first-past-the-post but was increased to 120 under MMP on the recommendation of a royal commission on the electoral system. The present ratio is 65 constituency MPs to 55 list MPs.

Mr Peters is not only in favour of cutting the number of MPs, but also wants it pared back to 80, as advocated in his party's 15 founding principles.

But Dr Boston, professor of public policy at Victoria University, says reducing the number of MPs would increase the relative power of the cabinet and mean less scrutiny of the Government's policies. It would also:

* Reduce the representativeness of Parliament, with fewer women, Maori and other ethnic minorities.

* Reduce the effectiveness of select committees.

* Reduce the talent pool from which the cabinet is selected.

* Reduce the quality of constituency representation.

He said that with a smaller Parliament there would be little prospect of a commensurate reduction in the size of the cabinet.

And history had already shown that with only 99 MPs, a majority of MPs in the governing party or parties could be ministers or senior office-holders in the Parliament.

Caucus and Parliament would have relatively less power.

"In practice, this would mean less scrutiny of the Government's policies and conduct and less scrutiny of the public service."

Mr Peters, who supports MMP, said one-third of MPs could be "laid off."

"It has happened to a lot of other New Zealanders in recent years."

He said the ratio could be 50 constituency MPs to 30 list MPs.

There were too many select committees, he said, "and some of the work they do is irrelevant to improving the economic and social welfare of New Zealanders."