The Dominion. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1912. BLOCKING REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1535, 3 September 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1912. BLOCKING REFORM.

The fight for the reform of the Legislative Council may not after all take place, on the merits of the measure now before thn Upper House. The elective principle has been affirmed by a nominated Legislative Council—the carrying of the motion for tho second reading of the Legislative Council Elections Bill did this—and the noxt step under ordinary circumstances would be the consideration of the details of tho measure in Committee. Many people doubted that the Upper Chamber as at present constituted would ever affirm the principle of an elective Council, and it came as a surprise to them to see the Bill go through that stage with so little really effective criticism. At the same time it was generally _ recognised that even after this distinct initial success for the. Reform Government, there was certain to be a hard struggle on the details of the measure, and that when it emerged from Committee it would possibly be so amended and changed as to prove unacceptable to its sponsors in its altered form. Instead of consideration of the Bill proceeding in normal fashion, however, an effort is to be made to place an unexpected obstacle in the way of its making any further progress this session. The Hon. J. D. Ormond, one of tho oldest and wisest of the present members of the Council, will move to-day that the Council having aflirmcd the principle of election, should not proceed further with the Bill this session "in order Unit the electors of the Dominion may be given an opportunity of considering the proposals for {living effect to the Bill." It will be interesting to li'iivn from Mr. Orjiokd exactly what lie means by this. What good purpose does he expect, to serve by siving the people of the Dominion a. further tea or twelve mouths in

which to consider the 'measure now before Parliament? It is easy to understand that where so radical a change is proposed there should not bo undue haste on the part of the Legislature in dealing with it; but how are the people to be consulted in the matter , ! Moreover, while the details of the measure are, necessarily, new, the general question of reform of the Upper House has been before the people for years past. As a matter of fact, it seems to us that the very best means of enabling the electors lo understand what the .Bill really proposes, and the weaknesses or merits of those proposals, is to allow the Bill to go into Committee, and for the Council to there thresh out the \nm and cons of the details of the measure for the public to think over. It has become very plain that the prospects of the Bill passing into law this session are remote; but if it is nut allowed to proceed past its second I reading stage, how much further advanced will Parliament he next session, so far as ascertaining public opinion pn its details is concerned 1 It will simply be where it is to-day. Councillors from time to time have taken a good deal of credit to themselves for having acted as a check on hasty legislation, and we are quite willing to admit that they have on occasions served the public well in this respect. But that does not necessarily mean that the best course to pursue in such circumstances as exist in the present case is to lay aside an important measure for twelve months without giving any consideration whatever tw its details. It is quits possible that if Mr. Ormoxd's motion were rejected, and the Bill taken in Committee, many useful and valuable suggestions might be forthcoming for improving the proposals in the measure designed to give effect to the elective principle, and if those Councillors who voted for the second reading are really sincere in their support of the principle, they can serve no good purpose by shelving further consideration of the reform for at least another twelve months. It is true that the Bill, even if passed into law this _ session, will not come into operation until the next general election, but that docs not afford any excuse for delay in dealing with it. If the reform proposed is to be killed, by all means let the Council face the responsibility a_nd take the consequences of its- action in killing it. It would certainly be more reasonable, after carrying the second reading of the Bill, to reject the measure on the ground that it is defective , in its details than to lay it aside without making any attempt to remedy those defects, or oven to enlighten the public concerning them.