POLITICS IN N.S.W.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 18, 22 January 1926, Page 7

POLITICS IN N.S.W.

ABOLITION OF COUNCIL PUBLIC THRONGS TO HOUSE. WILL NEW M.L.C.S OBEY? (By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright.) (Received 11.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, this day. The bill for the abolition of the Legislative Council is arousing extraordinary interest, and the precincts of the Houses of Assembly were thronged with people when the second reading of the bill came on in the Chamber. Sir Joseph Carrnthers challenged the Government's right on a point of order to abolish the Chamber, stating that such action was constitutionally wrong. He then asked for the ruling of the President of the Chamber. The President ruled against Sir Joseph Carruthers, stating that although there may legally be- some doubt, he would allow the debate to continue. The principal interest now centres on whether the latest Labour appointees tp the Legislative Council will- honour their pledges and vote for their own political extinction, or. as is generally thought will be the case, abstain from taking any active part regarding the measure now before the Chamber, and thus give themselves a fresh lease of political life. As instancing the dissension caused in the ranks of the Labour pa.rty by the Abolition of the Legislative Council Bill, Mr. SuttotJ. a Labour member, who voted against abolition, has been expellod from the party automatically, the president of the Labour party stating that Mr. Suttor has shown that he thinks more of the Upper House than of the Australian Labour party. All that remains for the executive of the party to do is- to meet and confirm his expulsion. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.)