Manawatu Daily Times Voice of the People

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6836, 18 April 1932, Page 6

Manawatu Daily Times Voice of the People

Though New Zealand is more closely attached t-o the constitutional observances of the Mother Country than are the States of the Australian Commonwealth it still may be of some passing interest to recite briefly the nature of the appeal of the Government of New South Wales from the decision of the Privy Council to the effect that the official State could not pro-, coed to the abolition of its Legislative Council without faking the opinion of the electors concerned. The judgment of the Full Court in the case was pronounced thirteen months ago, when Mr. Justice Eich, with the concurrence of his colleagues on the Bench, ruled that no measure for the abolition of the Legislative Council could be presented to the Governor for submission to His Majesty the King for his consent until it had been approved by the electors of the State. A month later a crisis arose between Sir Phillip Game, the State Governor, and Mr. J. T. Lang, still Premier, and the proceedings now in progress seem largely to be the fruits of their differences. The position to-day may be briefly stated. The Government having announced its intention to take measures to procure the passage through both Houses of Bills to abolish the Legislative Council, the Legislative Council itself, relying upon the belief that such Bills could not be accepted without a referendum, originated and passed Bills which were the subject of the decree. It thus became unnecessary for the Government to adopt any of the measures announced and upon the Bills being passed by the Legislative Council the controversy was reduced to the question of law, whether the Bills could be presented lawfully to the Governor and whether, if presented, lawfully or unlawfully, the Royal assent could be validly given without the Bills being first submitted to the electors of the State and approved by a majority of them. The suit was instituted by two members of the Legislative Council suing on behalf of themselves and all other members, except the president, and those members who, being Ministers of the Crown, were joined as defendants.

The lesson to be learned by New Zealand when it goes about, the task of getting rid of its Legislative Council will be to see that a beginning is made by ascertaining the wishes of the electors themselves. “The intervention of the British Government in the New South "Wales case,” we are told, “is understood to indicate that the Government attaches great importance to the appeal as a test case, the result of which will be applicable not only to all States of the Commonwealth, but practically to all parts of the British Empire. It is believed that the Attorney-General decided to intervene after consulting the Dominion Office.” This sounds like business and, even if it is not taken to imply that the House of Lords may be finally dissolved at the will of a majority of the British electors, it may at least lead the way to such a resuscitation of “Second Chambers” that both the Right Hon. G. W. Forbes, and the Right Hon. J. G. Coates, and tiven Mr. IT. E. Holland, may look upon their appointments with credit and genuine satisfaction.

Tho annual meeting of the Palmerston North Citizens’ Ratepayers’ Association will be held at Commerce buildings to-morrow night at 8 o'clock. An appeal for two prams needed by the Palmerston North Relief Committee was broadcast from 2ZP last ovening by the Mayor (Mr. A. E. Mansford). The first donation was received by telephone almost before the Mayor had ceased speaking. While being driven around the corner of the main highway on the other grde of the Pitzherbert bridge yesterday afternoon, a car belonging to Mr. J. SElsinore, Levin, skidded and overturned. The passengors suffered shock and bruises, escaping, fortunately, serious injury. Tho car was forced badly out of alignment,