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Hokitika Guardian, 19 May 1933, Page 4

The recent in New South Wales- having shown a majority m

favour of reforming the Legislative Council, the last nominative Second Chamber in -Australia will ‘come to an end, but Cult which will -replace it will differ from the Semite and all ‘-•-lo 'other Legislative! Councils of the Commonwealth in that its members will be elected by the members of -both Houses. The Senate- lia-s a strength of 36 members, half of, whom are elected by ordinary adult franchise every three years except .in the event of ta. prolonged disagreement with the House of Representatives,• when a double dissolution may take place. In Victoria, where a slight propelty qualification is required for membership of the Upper House, the method is by election by citizens who are at Loa-st hous.< lo’.ficfi’s Queensland has no -Second Chamber. It was abolished in 1922. South Australia'has a Council of 20 members, half of whom retire every three years, thenplaces being filled by election in the five districts into which the State is divided. Electors must have property qualifications rather higher than in Victoria. The Legislative Council of Western Australia- originally was nominative, the law providing that a change to the elective basis should take place- when the population reached 69,000. This figure was passed in 1893, when the necessary amendment w/as made in the Constitution. Here also property qualifications of a minor chanrcter are essential for electors. In Tasmania a similar system is ill force. Under the method which has prevailed in New South Wales the Legislative Council was merely an instrument ,of the Government in power. Members were appointed for life and there was no limit to their numbers. During the Premiership of Mr Lang the Council did not pass all hits measure®, hut this was due to a split between the State and Fcd-cl-al Labour Particb. It did, howover, pass the Mortgage Taxation Bill providing for a tax of five shillings in the pound on the capital amount c-f mortgages. Thus a capital levy that would have shattered the financial fundntio-’ S of the State would have been imoosed if the Governed had not dismissed Mr Lang before the measure could become law.