UPPER HOUSE REFORM.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 150, 31 July 1914, Page 8

UPPER HOUSE REFORM.

BILL INTRODUCED BY MR RUSSELL. [From our own Parliamentary Eaportcr.] WELLINGTON, July 31. The curiosity of the House was ; awakened to-day, when Mr G. W. .Bussell (Avon) gave notice that he would ask leave to-day to introduce a measure with the comprehensive title of "Legislative Council Reform Bill.'' The Bill is bound to create an interesting discussion, especially in view of the approaching introduction into the Lower House of the Government's own measure with an identical title. Mr Russell, it will be remembered introduced a Reform Bill in 1910, and the second reading was, carried by the House. This Bill is on similar lines. It provides for a system of representation which is best described in the following clause: — ''At the first General Election for the Council two members shall be elected to the Council for each group of four electoral districts, and the Maori electoral districts. At the next following General Election the Councillor who had at the first election received the lesser number of votes in the group for which he was elected, shall cease to hold ofliee, and at each successive dissolution of Parliament, the member for each ■group who has been longest in office without re-election shall cease to hold 1 office, so that the tenure of office shall be for two Parliaments.-" A system of preferential voting is proposed by Mr Russell for the election of Councillors. The Bill, it is proposed, shall take effect at the coming General Election.