SEVERE REVERSE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 43, 20 January 1926, Page 7

SEVERE REVERSE.

N.S. WALES GOVERNMENT. ATTITUDE OF COUNCIL. SYDNEY, Jan. 19. The Government again suffered a severe reverse in the Legislative Council, when Sir Joseph Carruthers presented tile report ot tho select committee of the House as to the reasons why tho Council had insisted on its amendments in the Parliamentary Electorates Rill. The report states that tho Council was constitutionally right in making whatever amendments it thought necessary as tho provisions of tho Government bill had not received the approval of tho people. Mr Willis strongly appealed to tho Houso to reject tlie report and thus carry tho bill in its original form, but on a division tho report was adopted by 34 votes to 27. A motion by Sir Joseph Carruthers that the Council insist on its amendments to the bill was then carried. Following the defeat of the Government, Mr Willis postponed the bill abolishing Legislative Council until to-morrow.

Mr Lang announced that at a special meeting of Cabinet it had been decided to introduce a bill in the Assembly, providing for the initiative, referendum and recall, which was based on the Swiss system, whereby if elected representatives were not carrying out their avowed policy, groups of electorates could by petition demand that it bo carried out and then, if Parliament rejected such legislation, a referendum could be demanded and if tho policy was then not the electors could demand tho recall of tho Parliamentarians. This bill, however, will not be introduced for some time. THE UPPER HOUSE. PROPOSED ABOLITION. SYDNEY, Jan. 19. In tho Legislative Asembl.v, Mr McTicrnan, Attorney-General, introduced tho Legislative Councillors Bill, which provides that in tho event of the abolition of the Council, members of that Chamber shall retain all the privileges thoy are at present enjoying.—Press Association.