LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM

Evening Star, Issue 16910, 6 December 1918, Page 7

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM

SURPRISE SPRUNG. ELIGIBILITY Of"wOMEN FOR 'PARLIAMENT AFFIRMED. [From OfJft PAJUJAUENTAax Rfipynraß.] WELLINGTON, December 5. The Legislative Council Amendment Bill, which originated this session in the Upper Chamber, cams up for consideration in the House to-night. The Bill, which postpones the" operation of the elective system to a date to be gazetted by Order in Council, and fixes the term of recent appointments to seven yoars, was discussed at length on the second reading stage. Interest was stimulated by Mr M'Comba, who intimated his intention of moving an amendment in committee making woJ: "' t ; a *; l §! bbe * or soat *> i'» Parliament. MrlYitiy suggested that members who seised yow ■attar year in the House of Iwprascntat-jvea should have preference in future appoint men to. He was opposed to jin alective Council unless the two Hr-uses had oqnal powers. The Second Chamber should be a revising chamber, and should be stocked by politicians. Mi- M'Comba denounced the Bill as an attempt to supplement the elective system by tjio ) old_ nominative system. Ho indicated that in committee Jib would move an amendment making women eligible for membership of the Council. Sir John Findlay counselled the Government _ to study Lord Bryco's book on the constitution of commonwealths, and particularly that part dealing with South Atnca, whore it would find dual membership of the Second Chamber advocated—that was, a chamber partly elected find partly nominated. Man of eminent ability, hkc the present Chief Justice, who uv.;:nt shortly retire, would under sucl system oo Eiftorded a place in the counsel; 01 the nation.

llis Prime Minister said such advocaoy J was well worthy of consideration. Mr Payne approved of the principle of women being members of the Council. .mc second reading was passed, and the House- went into committee- on the Bill ..Ir Ai'Combs strongly objected to the oontrniafcjon of the seven-year term of apand moved an amendment nutting 1924 the last session in which nominated members should sit in the Coun- ! cil.— I his wa* lost by 44 votes to 15. Air M'Combs' then moved an amend- : xnenfc making women eligible for a eeat in I ornament, and ibis was carried by 31 | votes to 27 amid considerable applause and 1 '!?''•■- and t!lc «krase was embodied in i the 1 Bill. j The following is the division list: i 4 F ?- r - ' Against. j Anderson Allen j Ai"=tey Bollard ! Brown Carroll I iHidcio Oolvin i Craigse Dickson, J. S. j 1 hckson, J. JM. Forbes | Ell Frascr, Sir W. . Field, T. A. H. Guthrio Eraser, P. Harris I Henare Herriss Hornsby Hudson Luko Jennings M'Callnm Lee M'Combs Mac Donald Newman, Dr Massey Ngata Myers Parr Newman, E. Payne Noswoa-thy Poole Fearee r,eed Ponmre Wdey Ehodca, T. W. Smith Russell Stewart Scott Sykca Statham Talbot Cru Thompson Ward Ye itch Young. Walker Wilford Wilkinson Wright, When Mr Speaker resumed the- Chair tho Prime Minuter raised a point of order that the amendment waj foreign to the Bill, but Sir F. W. Lang uphold Mr M'Combs's contention that the Bill then under review was an amendment of the Legislature Act and ruled that tho amend- j ment was in order. ! Tho Bill was then read a third time and j passed. ',