N.S.W. UPPER HOUSE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 March 1933, Page 6

N.S.W. UPPER HOUSE

COMING REFERENDUM

ELECTIVE system provided

SYDNEY, February 2'B

In a fe,w Ave-iks now politicians in New South Wake Avill commence Avliat promises to be one of trie most strenuous campaigns in the history of the .State/ On May 13 the Governments proposals for the reform of the Legislature Council Avill be submitted to the people in the form of a referendum and Labour, under', the' direction of AD J. T/ Lang, will bitterly oppose them.’ Trie Government' pa-rt-y is go keen to have its pla% put into operation that its members' Avill devote practically the Avliole Of their time jn appealing to the people for endorsemest. Labo-ur.is greatly heartened by the' knowledge that all referendums in Australia have failed to satisfy the ruling authority, arid they think that this referendum av i 11 go the sairie. Avay; Both sides haA r e mapped out an extensive oairipaigii and the poor" elector may anticipate a flood "of words and the intrusion of many side issues. Labour av ill bp most anxious to divert attention front the issues at stake, more particu-

larly because it has abused the Council so much in the past.

in Australia had its

. genes'i; in the Le T is]ntf\-e Council of New South Wales. The first council Avas an advisory body, constituted by Royal Warrant dated December 1, 1823. Five members Avere elected to advise the Governor, and their first meeting Avas held o,fl August 25.. 1824. In 1842 the elective -principle Avas partly adopted; the personnel of the Council Avas increased to 36 members, 0 f Avhom 24 Aver, 3 elected. The bi-cam9i’al system wkls introduced in New .South Wales in Mhy, 1856, the first [legislature comprising an Assembly of 54 members, chosen by the .electors, and a Council of “not dess than 21 members,” nom'nat. ed by t.h-e GoAmi'r.or on. the advice of the Executive Council. ELECTION FOR DEFINITE TERMS.

The first Legislative Council w.'is appointed for five years. Sinc e then, hoAvever, appointments hate' been for .fife. In 1801 the comparative -strengths of the t-Avo Chambers Avers ; Couaicil; 67; Assembly, 125. ThV popular Chamber has sinc. e ; : shrunk to 90 and the nominee Chamber has increased to 122,.. -largely j due to the “‘SAvampings” of r©cent years, , Of the latter number, 70 were nominated by the Labour Governments and 52 by other Governments. frh e Government iiOav pr-opose s to -abolish t-lie nominee system and replace it avith a system of. indirect election of' TiiembeiAj for definite terms. If a "yet;” A r ote is- recorded at the -roferen- : dum' th € rreAv Upper House Avi 11 caiisioi of 60 members, instead of the present membership of 122. There will 'be no payment to members. There are ,no restrictions as to ' persons eligible for election. No qualification of- age or .property is -required; Any person—ma-l e or female—-competent to exercise ia vote a.s an • elector avi 11 b e - eligib'e - for the; Council ballet. The nomination paper, however, must be signed by two membei’S Of p-ariiament. The Government has -incorporated in the bill a policy of .election by the Upper and Lower Horse t-liemselv-es sitting at one electoral body. For th e constitution of the first reformed Upper House an r’cetion by the proportional representation system is provided. The election -will be hie Id in four distinct series. Those first elected will be the Lst to retins, holding office for 12 years. Those next elected will hold'office for aiin? years. (Thos e 'elected thirdly Avill hold office for six years and those last’ elected will retire after a period, of three years. PROVISION FOR DISAGREEMENT. The i)iil provides that in Fie -case of an appropriation "'bill, Avhich t-h e Legislative Council fails to pass, thn Legislative"Assembly’ may submit the bill to' the Governor for assent a'fter the I expiration of one 'month.' jjj the case of any other' bills Avhich have been passed by the Assembly,: land with Avhich the Council disagrees, the ffi-li cannot. b e forced through Avithout » referendum. '

Provision is made requiring the bill to be pasi'-ed by the Legislative Assembly on two occasions, with an interval of thre' e months intervening, and if, after a free conference between managers representing both Houses, thg disagreement still exists, for a joint session, at which ho vote js' taken. If after a* joint session the disagreement still exists, the' Legislative Council may submit the bill to a referendum; These provisions' will apply even to the bil s dealing'with the Council's own constitution.