THE UPPER HOUSE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 8, 11 January 1899, Page 2

THE UPPER HOUSE.

SPEECH. BY ME SEDDON.

HOKITIKA, Tuesday

Replying to an address of congratulation presented to him on behalf of a number of old colonists on the passing of the Old Age Pensions Bill, the Premier, referring to the action of the Legislative Cohncil in New Zealand, compared the same with the recent action of the Legislative Councils of South Australia and New South Wales. Of late years there had been a general tendency on the part of the Councils in Australia to encroach on the rights and privileges of the representative branch of the Legislature. The recent action of the New South Wales and South Australian Councils had eclipsed all previous performances. The course followed by the Legislative Council of New Zealand in connection with the passing of the Old Age Pensions Bill stood out in bold relief as compared with what had happened in Australia. When the Old Age Pensions Bill went to the Council the Speaker ruled that it was a money Bill, and all that remained to be done was either to pass it or to reject it. In the previous session some of the Councillors had voted against the measure, but during the recess public opinion, had done its work, and whilst personally adhering to the convictions that they were right in their first opposition, they had come to the conclusion that constitutionally it was their duty to give effect to the ■wishes of the people. The result was that the measure passed the Council by a much larger majorty than it otherwise would have had. Contrasting this with what happened in Australia. Mr Seddon said that they there found the. Council-refusing to pass the amount of the death duties required by the Government. The Colonial Treasurer had deemed it necessary to increase, taxation, with the view of meeting expenditure, but the Council, finding that the financial demands had been somewhat curtailed in the Representative Chamber, further embarrassed the Government by striking out these duties.. In view of that, he would ask what was the next thing that was likelydo happen in the direction of interfering with the riahts of the popular Chamber? The Premier was glad to say that the New Zealand Council had not within his ■ recollection so trenched upon the functions of the Government, or the rights of the representative Chamber as to embarrass the'financial management of the Government of the dag. What did they find occurring in South Australia? . Without rhyme or reason the Council had suspender! the passing of the Appropriation Bill: not that it contained anything the Council obiec/ed to. but because the Government had made certain proposals affecting Hie reform of the Council itself. Mr Seddou had no hesitation in saving that the South Austrnlian Council barf. by refusing to pass the Annronn'ation Bill, taken the. unprecedented and most unconstitutional course ever taken by a leo-isiritive hnflv in n ic "^lath'pr— *>v<»n in the British Empire. He wns <rlad +r> S nv that in New 7ea'nnd the T.ri-nlo<r P s of the neonle had boen mnintpin^d. and though nt times they had hnd to wait before the wishes of the maion'tv were o-iven effect to. still h* was firmly of the opinion that New Zealand oould set an example to +^c Councils in the ntber "olryn'es. The Lesrislafivp Council of New Zealand^ would, he felt sure, whilst maintaining- its own privileges to the last., "ever atte-mnt to force a policy on the Government of the day, or by a side

wind attempt to interfere with or encroach upon the privileges of the representatives of the people in the Lower House.