I move: That this Bill be now read a Second Time. It has been prepared in consequence of representations made to the Government regarding the difficult position that would occur in the colleges of the National University if a grave emergency should develop which would interfere with the elections of new governing bodies in these colleges. The period of office of these bodies is limited by Charter to three years, and this triennial period terminates on January 31st next. Arrangements for the election of new governing bodies should be made, in the normal course, at an early date.
The procedure for these elections, which is laid down in the statutes of the different colleges, includes the giving of notice to the graduate electors and the holding of elections within certain prescribed dates by the various appointing bodies—the graduates of the college, the local authorities, the college staff, etc. Furthermore, there is the question of postal voting to be considered. It has been represented that many graduates who live abroad might find it very difficult, if not impossible, to take part in the election owing to the present abnormal postal delays. There is the further point that it is considered undesirable to have contested elections in the University Colleges during the emergency. The Bill simply gives power to enable the period of office of the present governing bodies to be extended until the present emergency has passed. It is provided that the extension of the period of office of the governing body of a college will be made only at the request of that body, and the time for which the period of office may be extended by an Order of the Government is limited to one year. Provision is included, however, for the making of a further Order before the termination of that extended period if the emergency should not have ended before then.
