A Stuffed Chamber

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVI, Issue 9, 22 December 1925, Page 5

A Stuffed Chamber

New South Wales Courcil THE NEW APPOINTMENTS. SCATHING SPEECH BY OPPOSITION LEADER. (By Cable-Press Association— Copyright.) (Received 22, 11.15 a.m.) Sydney, Doc. 22. In the Assembly. Mr. T. R. Bavin asked a question of the Premier as to whether the Upper House would be abolished. Mr. Lang replied that he was at present not prepared to make any statement. Another question asked was whether, when the appointments wore made. Mr. Lang would order the flairs to be half-masted +*> signify thn deathnell of constitutional government. Speaking to a motion for the adjournment, Mr. Bavin drew attention to occurrences in the Council marking a revolution in the constitution. The matter, ho said, was of vital importance. as the constitution was entirely revolutionised. It was never suggested that the Council should bo a more body for endorsing measures passed by the Government, but the present Government bad set un an entirely new claim which apparently had been endorsed by the Governor that a Government with a. majority in tho Assembly could pass any measures it liked, whether tho measures wore part of (he policy' it wont io tho with nr not. That was an entirely new principle in tho constitution, nn/) if that principle should ho continued the Council would become an absurd Hv and tho sooner it was abolished the better.

Mr. Bavin continued that ho believed fhe Governor Tmd boon assured that the Council would net be abolished. but bo believed also'that it wa« far from certain that iho assurance would not bo broken. It was a verr wicked swindle never before perpetuated. The new Councillors were appointed on conditions that no docent man would accept. They wore utterlv unfitted for thn positions or they would never have accepted them on the degrading terms upon which they had accepted them. Mr. Bavin concluded that Parliament was now degraded and debased and the Government had invoked the aid of tho King’s representative in debasing it. NEW MEMBERS SWORN TN. AN UNAVAILING PROTEST. (Received 22. 11.15 a.m.) Sydney, Dec. 22. All tho now Legislative Councillors with the exception of three were sworn in. Allthough Mr Lang declined to make any admission it is understood that ho gave the Governor an assurance that until a definite mandate is obtain cd from tho people tho new members will not be pledged to abolish the Upper House. In the Legislative Council Sir Joseph Carruthers moved the adjournment of the House to discuss the new appointments. Ho said he took this action ns it afforded the only opportunity for members to protest against, the Government’s action. After a debate the motion was withThe Government has now a majority of three in the Council. Tho Assembly passed th? loan estimates, amounting to £11,255,190.