WEDNESDAY

Northern Advocate, 20 July 1901, Page 5

WEDNESDAY

ELECTIVE EXECUTIVE BILL. Major Steward moved the second reading of the Elective Executive Bill, to provide for the election «of the Executive Council. It was, he said, the moat important Bill that could be brought before the House, as it carried to a logical conclueion the lib' ml doctrine of the government of the people by the people. He conteuded that if the Bill could be sent to the people, under the referendum clause, which it was proposed to insert in committee, it would be adopted by o large majority. Mr Willis pointed out that all our great liberties and reforms had been obtained by means of party government, and he had heard nothing to warrant him in enpporting any alteration in the present system,.

Mr Barclay believed the Bill was as bad a one as could be introduced. It was a gross error for any Liberal to support this Bill, which was a Conservative device to put a clog on the wheels of progress.

Sir J. Ward remarked upon the conspiracy of silence on the part of some members on an important question like this, and said he wished to put on record his protest against the Bill. In his opinion the Bill proposed to create a Bystem of intrigue and underhand procedure which would bring discredit on the House and country.

Mr Seddon warned members that' undor this Bill the House would be brought ioto conflict with the representatives of the Grown ; in other words, they would be setting at defiance the representative of the Crown, and a great constitutional change like this would mean cutting the painter with the Old Country. Another objection to the Bill was that it would talce away the power of the people, in that at present a Ministry were liable to be challenged from day to day during the session, but under this Bill, after the start of the session, the Government could not bo further mv pench«k Xbo debate was adjourned,