UPPER HOUSE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 45, 22 January 1926, Page 7

UPPER HOUSE

BILL FOR ABOLITION,

GREAT PUBLIC INTEREST,

WHAT WILL NEW. MEMBERS DOf (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received January 22, 9.40 a.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 22. The Abolition of the Legislative Council Bill has aroused extraordinary public interest and the precincts of the House were thronged when the second reading of the bill came on. In the Chamber Sir Joseph Carruthers challenged the Government’s right on a point of order to abolisu the Chamber, stating that such action was constitutionally wrong. He then asked for the ruling of the President of the Chamber.

The President ruled against Sir Joseph Carruthers, stating that, although there might legally be some doubt, ho would allow the debate to continue.

The principal interest now centres on whether the latest Labour appointees to the Council will honour their pledges and vote for their own political extinction or, as is generally thought will be the case, abstain from taking any active part regarding the measure now before the Chamber, and thus give themselves a fresh lease of political life.—Press Association. IS THE BILL IN ORDER? ARGUMENT IN PARLIAMENT. Received Janu ry 22, 10.55 a.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 22. In the Legislative Council, during the debate on the Abolition of the Council Bill, Doctor Wall, Mr Robson, and Sir Joseph Carruthers asked Mr Willis if the bill would actually include the initiative, referendum and recall. Mr Willis said he had no doubt that the machinery to make the proposal effective would be provided before the bill was assented to. Doctor Wall voted with tho Government on tho motion to introduce the bill, but intimated that he would not vote for the Government on this occasion unless tho proposal to establish the referendum and recall was included m tho bill. Tho point previously raised by Sir Joseph Carruthers was that the bill was out of order because it was at variance with the section of the Constitution Act which conferred the charter of self-government on the people of the State, which declares, inter alia, that “the Legislature may by act alter tho laws in force concerning the Council.” He contended that the word “alter” restricted the power to alteration not to substitution. He quoted from dictionaries to show that “alter” meant to make a change in something without .changing that something into something else. He said that tho clause further limited any alteration of the constitution of the Upper-Chamber to nomination on election.—Press Association.

. THE ABOLITION BILL. FIRST READING CARRIED. SYDNEY,. Jan. 20. In the Legislative Council the Government won the first round in connection with tho Abolion Bill, the motion for the introduction of the bill being earned by 45 votes to 43. The Labour members who had paired refrained from voting. The bill was read a first time, and formally adjourned. Tho general opinion is that the bill will be carried by one vote.—Press Association.

PREMIER’S STATEMENT.

POLICY OF DECENTRALISATION.

Received January 22, 11.15 a.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 22.

Mr J. T. Lang, the State Premier, replying to a deputation of representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Manufacturers and the Employers’ Federation, said the abolition of the Legislative Council had been a plank in tho Labour platform since the party came into existence. If at the next election the people showed their disapproval of the Government’s action the next Administration would be quite able to establish a revising chamber., Mr Lang said the abolition of the Upper House would be a step towards the policy of decentralisation for which he stood. The Premier added: “The sooner provincial councils replace State Parliaments the better,” and concluded: “If the Council does not go to-day it must go next week or as soon as possible.”—Press Association.

EXPELLED FROM -PARTY.

ACTION AGAINST MEMBER

Received January 22,. 9 ' . a.m. SYDNEY, Jan. 22. As instancing the dissension caused in tho ranks of the Labour Party by the Abolition of tho Legislative Council Bill, Mr Suttor, a Labour member who voted against abolition, has been expelled from the party automatically, the president of the Labour Party stating that “Mr Suttor has shown that he thinks more of the Upper House than of the Australian Labour Party, and all that remains is for tho executive of the party to meet and confirm his expulsion.”—Press Association.

GOLD PASS BILL.

ASSEMBLY CARRIES SECOND READING.

Received January 22, 10.55 a.m, SYDNEY, Jan. 22

The Assembly, after a scene of dis order, during which one member was removed by the sergeant-at-arms, carried the second reading of tho Gold Pass Bill.—Press Association.