LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 174, 22 July 1916, Page 9

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Friday. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. The Hon. G. Jones resumed the debate cti tfie* secoudiCeadLngi.b/ithe Legislative. Council Act Amendment Bill. After ' alluding to the agitation organised by i, the Reform party against the Council he 6tated his firm conviction that the

Act was unnecessary and ehould be repealed. A large number of beneficial laws, passed since the late Mr. Ballance took office, and which had done much I to -help the workers, had originated in the Legislative Council. He intended to support the amendment. The Hon. T. MeGibbon, who pronounced himself as a supporter of the . elective principle, said he hoped the Act would be carried out in its entirety. The Hon. W. Earnshaw said that after the lucid explanation made by the Leader of the Council appeared to him that the debate seemed quite unneeesi sary. He supported the bill. The Hon. J. Barr's amendment was then put and lost on the voices. The Hon. F. H. D. Bell, in reply, con-

troverted the statement of the Hon. Sir William Hall-Jones that in the arrangement made between tlie two parties there had been a bargaining away of the rights of the people. The motion for the second reading was carried by 22 votes to 2. The Council then went into committee on the bill. The bill was reported from committee without amendments. MEMBERS' SALARIES. On the motion for the third reading, the Hon. J. T.. Paul raised the question of salaries paid to members, and stated that Tie considered them insufficient. He hoped the Government would give the matter consideration.

The Hon. A. T. Maginnity, while deprecating any personal interest, said he would give the weight of his support to any proposal in the direction indicated by the Hon. Mr. Paul. The Hon. W. Earnshaw agreed that the time was opportune for the Government to consider the whole question of payments to members. The scale ehould not be based upon what a working man ' could earn. He advocated a scheme of superannuation for members of the Council and the House. The bill was read a third time and passed. .MILITARY SERVICE BILL. Tlie report of the eecond conference of managers of both Houses oh the Military Service Bill was received. The ■ Hon. Mr. Paul contended that no relief

had been afforded to Christadelphiane, some of whom were prepared to give their lives rather than yield up their conscientious principles. The report was adopted and the Council rose at .120 p.m.