POLITICS IN N.S.W.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1926, Page 9

POLITICS IN N.S.W.

UPPER HOUSE ABOLITION. ACUTE CONTROVERSY. SYDNEY, January 22. Dr F. E. Wall, Mr. W. Robinson and bir Joseph Carruthers asked Mr. A. C. \Villis, Vice-president of the Executive Council, if the bill for the abolition of the Legislative Council would actually include provision for the initiative, referendum and recalL In reply Mr. Willis said he 'had no doubt that the machinery to make the proposal effective would be provided before the bill was assented to. Dr. Wall, who had voted with the Government on the motion to introduce the bill, intimated that he. would not vote for the Government on this occasion unless the proposal to establish the initiative, referendum, and recall were included in the bill. Sir Joseph Carruthers had previously raised the point that the bill was out of order because it was at variance with the section of the Constitution-Act which conferred the charter of self-government on the people of the State; and which declares, inter alia, that the Legislature may, by Act, alter the laws in force concerning tht Council. •Sir Joseph contended that the word "alter" restricted the power to "alteration," not to "substitution." He quoted dictionaries to show that "alter" means to make a change in something without changing that something to something else. He said the clause further limited any alteration of the constitution of the Upper ilouse to nomination or election. In replying .to "a deputation, from representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Manufacturers and the.. Employers' Federation, the. Premier, Mr. J. T. Lang, said the abolition of the'Legislative Council had been a plank in the Labour platform since the party came into existence. If at the next election the people showed their disapproval of the Government's action the next Administration would be quite able to establish a revising Chamber. . The abolition of, the Upper House would be a step toward the policy of decentralisation for. which he stood. The sooner provincial councils replaced the i State Parliament the better. If the Legislative Council did not go to-day it must go next week, or as soon as. possible.-(A. and $.Z. Cable.) MR. LANG'S ANXIETY. A MISSING M.L.C. (Received 12.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, this Jay. The Premier (Mr. J. T. Lang) announced in Parliament that he will prorogue on Monday next, but a special session will be called within a fortnight, when the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and the measure to abolish the Upper House will be reintroduced. The Government is greatly concerned over the. absence of a member of the Legislative Council, and it is stated has employed constables and detectives to trace, his whereabouts, but so far without result.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) MUCH HOSTILITY. GOVERNMENT ADJOURNMENT. (Received 12.30 p.m.) SYDNEY, this day. One member the Government was relying on for support was absent; another member of the Government announced his intention of voting • against the remaining stages of the measure, •which has received so much hostility that the Government moved and carried the motion of adjournment until next Wednesday.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) ARCHBISHOP'S VIEW. ROMAN CATHOLIC MEMBERS. SYDNEY, January 22. Among other controversial points which have been raised in connection with the Abolition of the Legislative Council Bill is how far the Labour platform pledge in favour of the abolition of the Chamber has bound Roman Catholic members of the Upper House. Archbishop Kelly, in a signed communication to the Press, says he has been asked to exnress an opinion on the abolition proposal. He says: "We say that if the law is the dictate of reason, spoken by authority for the common good, we must regard the second Chamber as indispensable for the proper enactment of' the law. Our experience to date con- } firms this. ' "An attempt to amputate one arm or Constitution is not warranted,■ and is an unjustifiable breach of trust. We speak independently of all parties."— (A. and N.Z. Cable.) FREE RAILWAY PASSES. SYDNEY, January 22. The Legislative Assembly, after scenes : of disorder, in the course of which one member was removed by the Sergeantat Arms carried the second reading of the tin which urovides for the; presentation, n f cold railway passes for life -to memSerf—(A. and N.Z. CableO.- .--.. . ;