UPPER HOUSE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 256, 16 August 1950, Page 4

UPPER HOUSE

ABOLITION BILL COUNCIL CARRIES SECOND READING (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 15. By a margin of seven votes the Legislative Council at 9.40 o’clock to-night decided that New Zealand will be governed by one Chamber —the House of Representatives. Last week the Leader of the Council (Mr W. J. Poison) said that the “abolitionists” had a twovote margin in the Upper House allowing for those then absent through illness, but when the vote was taken to-night three possible voters for the retention of the Council were absent and two for the other side were also absent. On a division the second reading of the Legislative Council Abolition Bill was passed by 27 votes to 20. All the newly-elected members of the Council voted in favour of the Bill, and all the older members, irrespective of party affiliations, voted against it. The issue was put to the vote on the amendment moved by Sir William Perry (Wellington) that the process of the Bill be delayed pending the sitting, finding, and report of a joint committee of both Houses in its implementation. When the vote was taken on the aueetion in substance, the second reading was passed on the following votes: For I:he Bill, Messrs W. J. Poison (Wanganui), L. A. Alexander (Waitara), A. (Dunedin), J. S. Allen (Tirau), C. W. D. Bell (Rangitumau), Mrs C. L. Burrell (Christchurch), Messrs A. R. Cockerell (Invercargill), C. H. Croker (New Plymouth), H. G. Dickie (Rotorua), W. P. Endean (Auckland), J. A. Finlayson (Whangarei), W. J. Girling (Blenheim), F. P. Kelly (Hastings), H. G. Livingstone (Christchurch), B. McLeod (Feilding), R. T. McMillan (Christchurch), G. H. Hackley (Lower Hutt), H. T. U. Marumaru (Bulls), Dr. O. 0. Mazengarb (Wellington), Messrs D. Murdoch (Dunedin), A. P. O’Shea (Wellington) H. Pitts-Brown (Nelson), N. A. Rattray (Waimate), J. F. Thompson (Greytown), Mrs A. L. Weston (Wellington), Messrs C. G. White (Wellington), and W. Young (Invercargill). Against the Bill: Miss.M. P. Anderson (Greytown), Messrs W. Black (Nelson), T. Bloodworth (Auckland), A. Campbell (Port Chalmers), J. Cumming (Petone), E. R. Davis (Auckland) Mrs M. M. Dreaver (Auckland), Messrs J. E. Duncan (To Awamutu), R. Eddy (Wellington), W. Grounds (North Auckland), W. Lee Martin (Hamilton), T. F. O’Byrne (Invercargill), P. J. O’Kane (Hawke’s Bay), J T Paul (Wellington), Sir William Perry (Wellington), Messrs J. Roberts (Wellington), J. Robertson (Wellington), J. Ryall (Greymouth), D. Wilson (Wellington) and F. G. Young (WellinThe absentees were Mrs E. M. Gould (Auckland), and Mr E. H. S. Hamilton (Christchurch), both of whom are new members, and Messrs J. A. Hanan (Invercargill), W. J. Rogers (Wanganui), and F. Waite (Balclutha). •