Yes vote likely for referendums

By BERNARD ORSMAN

In addition to electing a government on Saturday, voters have a say on two referendums - seeking a reduction in the number of MPs and tougher penalties for violent crime.

The two referendum questions, which are not binding on politicians, are:

* Should the size of the House of Representatives be reduced from 120 members to 99 members?

* Should there be a reform of the justice system placing greater emphasis on the needs of victims, providing restitution and compensation for them and imposing minimum sentences and hard labour for all serious violent offences?

The referendums are the result of laborious efforts by retired Wellington woman Margaret Robertson, who got fed up with the behaviour of MPs in the first MMP Parliament, and Christchurch shopkeeper Norm Withers, whose mother was bashed with an iron bar while minding his shop.

Mrs Robertson wants the number of MPs reduced to 99 at the first election after Saturday "to return a bit of respect back to Parliament."

Mr Withers wants greater emphasis put on the rights of victims, tighter bail laws, jail sentences that mean what they say and concurrent sentences replaced with cumulative ones.

Political observers agree both referendums will be passed overwhelmingly.

Jonathan Boston, a spokesman for 70 academics urging voters to reject the case for reducing the size of Parliament, said he was disappointed at the lack of debate and at some newspapers attacking him for putting forward the academics' case.

He hoped the next Parliament would not place undue weight on the results because research showed 40 per cent of voters did not know the referendums were taking place and people had not been fully informed on the issues.

National, Act and New Zealand First are more inclined to take firm action on the Withers petition. National under Justice Minister Tony Ryall has introduced longer sentences for home invasion, while Act leader Richard Prebble has made his party's stance on longer sentences for criminals a bottom-line policy in a coalition with National.

Labour, the Alliance and the Greens all favour the restorative justice aspects of the Withers petition but are softer on longer sentences.

On the Robertson referendum, Labour leader Helen Clark said the results should not be tackled in isolation but referred to a parliamentary review of the electoral system which must take place next year.

Prime Minister Jenny Shipley has pledged to give New Zealanders a chance to review the number of MPs and dump MMP through two referendums.

NZ First wants to reduce the number of MPs to 80.