UPPER HOUSE REFORM

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1913, Page 3

UPPER HOUSE REFORM

THE BILL BEFORE THE COUN-

CIL.

(Per Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 24

■ When "-the Council met at 2.30 p.m. tlie Hon. J. R. Sinclair resumed the debate on. the second reading of the Legislative Council Bill.

Subject to limitation, of numbers he favoured the elective principle, because he believed that the time had* arrived, when the people would be given some voice in the selection of the Legislative Council. He did not approve , of the Bill, because it was so framed to provide a wholly elective body. That would give too much power to the democratic and destroy judicial function' of the chamber. He would rather see the bill lost and would not accept it in that form. He proposed that Council be half elective and half nominative. From the very .nature of things an elective body could not truly perform the function, of a second chamber, which was to revise and check hasty legislation. There could be no fatal rlvairy between a body such as he proposed, and the popular chamber. He thought that public criticism would check the improper use of nominative patronage. He contended that the Council could not safely be elected from the same constituencies as the House. He quoted precedents to show that all modern constitutions were framed on widely different basis for the election of a second chamber. He doubted the efficiency of the proportionate" system of representation. The ticket system must play an important part in all such elections. A check should be put upon the use of motor caTs in campaigns. Canvassing should be prohibited. While favouring tSe elec tive principle he must preserve the Council such position properly to perform- their true functions a s part of the constitution. ,

The Hon. G. Jones said that anyone voting for the bill signed the death warrant of the Council, and confessed, that its constitution was un satisfactory. The Council was justified in refecting the Bill last year, because the present measure was vast ly different. If proportional, represent atioa applied to the Council and not to the House, the Council must have the power of the purse, being elected on a superior franchise. Nothing had been done by the Government during the recess to educate the people to the provisions of the ! measure without which they were not

sincere

The Minister had said that he 'was anxious .to meet the Council, but had met it with the veiled threat th?,t if they did not pass the Bill it would be submitted to a very different Council next year. It would be d:sastrous to malce the Council ''replici of the other chambeT, or an arena of Party contention.

The debate was' adjourned on the motion of the Hon. W. C F. Cnrncross, and the Council rose at 4-3°.