LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16960, 8 October 1920, Page 7

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

. POSTPONEMENT OF REFORM ACT. I (ABBtBCiED TRESS 4SSOCIATIOH REPORT.) ] WELLINGTON, October 7. In the House of Representatives tonight, in moving the secondares cling of the Legislative Council Act Amendment Bill, the Prime Minjpter explained the reasons why the Act had not been brought into operation. It was understood thnfc many members desired amendments of on the Statute Book, and as there was not time to consider these this session, the Government thought it advisable to make a further postponement of the operat'on of the Art. Tho only important amendment proposed related to an alteration of the boundaries and tho number of mombers in the electorates for tho Upper House; Mr 'VVilford said thero had been much discussion on the question whether another chamber was necessary or pot. He thought if an opportunity was given th"s Chamber to discuss the matter, it would be found that there would dp a plain statement jot views on the point. He personally was prepared to vote for a Bill for the election of the Lower House on tho system of proportional representation, but he was not prepared at present to say what shape reform of the Upper House should take. Ho hoped that tho matter would bo dealt with definitely end finally next session. The Hon. J. A. Hanan said evidently ■fcho Primo Minister realised that a nominated Upper House had some advantages, and there were difficulties in the way of ranking it a wholly elective chamber. He could see no justification for holding over the operation of the present Aefc providing, for an elective Upper House. People- eupporio'l t'-o Government at tho elections, believing that it would reform the "other place," and that reform should be brougho about.

Mr Parry said ho the time Jintl arrived when membership of the Upper House should bo free of suspicion that appointments were made for services to a particular party. Hβ quoted from epeeehes by the Prime Minister in 1911 and by Sir Francis 801 l in 1914, in which both condemned the present nominated system. Now ■jf Pfpenred as if > the Government wris endeavouring to sidestep the issue when the moment was due for the elective principle for the Council to come into operation. The Upper House, if continued in existence, should be elective, by proportional representation, but his idea wna that it should be wiped out. Mr IsJtt congratulated the Government on the proposal to postpone the Council Amendment Act. He hoped it wnuld continue to be postponed indefinitely. An elective Upper House would result in duplication of the Lower House, and thus its usefulness as a revising chamber would be lost in party bias. Under the present system members of the "other place" were free from the disturbing influences, of election possibilities and party passion. Proportional representation would bo unworkable in country districts < Mr McCombs combated the statement that proportional representation ■would be unworkable in the country, pointing out that in Australia the system was worked with whole Spates as electorates for the Senate The Reform Party should not stand for the repeal of proportional representation unless it had a mandate from the people, at an election. He blamed the I*oo™» for the postponement of the operation of the main Act by the arrangement made when the National Government was formed. , Mr Savage said it was wrong to continue putting Council reform off,"™ people would become suspicious of i arLamentary methods. i e ; nfr Mr Holland opposedl the Bill as-being a broach of faith with the .people. Mr l>. Jones quoted the. New.South Wnlp3 report on the recent election, 2££ B Xt lee than half the number of electors on the roll cast valid votes, so not only was the Government a minority-body, but the whole-election oX reflected .the opinion of a minority ° the Legislative Council being elected on the basis ot proportional representation. . The second- reading- was carried by 36 votes to IC, the division list being as follows: — . ,Ayes (36). Atmore , ' i'J'fee , Bitchcner 2. i-° i Bollard }\^\ col Coatos Mander Dickson, J. S. Mnssey Field ns l erß Glenn *} ash .. Guthrio ' Nos worthy Hamilton, A. Parr Hamilton, J. R. Pomare Harris P° tte , r ~ Hawkcn Powdrell Herries «« d , „ „ Hor-klv T W e3, '?'w^" Hudson Rh{rt«., L W " Sues Wright Lee Noes (16). SKT , |«" a pss The Honso then went into Committee ' "cffiSJt" Postponing the.date of the coming into option of the Bill, was challenged by the Labour Party, ana on a division was agieed to by 30 \otes was then .mit&e without amendment, reaa a third time, and passed.