Notes of the Day

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIIII, Issue 3626, 12 September 1912, Page 4

Notes of the Day

THE "LORDS” AND THE “MUSIC.”

Important proposals regarding the Government’s policy with regard to the suggested reconstitution of the legislative Council were announced by the Prime Minister in the House of .Representatives yesterday afternoon. According .to our Parliamentary correspondent, the Prime Minister gave notice of six motions afiinning that it is essential that an alteration in the constitution of the Legislative Council shall lie effected bv an Act to he passed by the present Parliament, the alteration being; in accordance with the proposals of the Government’s original Bill. One of the proposals is that provision should be made for preserving to the House of Representatives exclusive control in all matters 'of finance, and also lor eases where the Council and the House ultimately fail to arrive at an agreement on any proposed legislation. The Bill, of which notice was given by the Prime Minister yesterday afternoon, is a measure of cue clause, providing that all future appointments to the Council b v notification arc to be for three years only. The purposes of this proposal are fairly obvious—while the nominative system is retained, appointment for three years is more democratic‘than for seven years, as at present. There is a possibility that a number of new members may have to he called to the Council to carry the Government’s Reform Bill through to the ’ Statute Book, and there is a very apparent reason why those m embers'should not b e given the independence of appointment for seven years.