THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE LABOUR BILLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8663, 4 September 1891, Page 5

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND THE LABOUR BILLS.

[BY TKLEORAPU. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.J Wellington, Thursday. At n meeting of the Trades and Labour Council to-night the following resolutions were carried: —"That this Council is of opinion (1) that the Legislative Council has '■■■shown class prejudice in dealing with those liberal measures known as the Labour Bills which have been considered during the present session of Parliament; (•2) that assuming that it is the function of the Legislative Council to review measures passed in the House of Representatives with a view to act as a check upon hasty legislation, the majority of its members have given no proof that they possess the mental fitness required to discharge that duty; (3) that the action of the Legislative Council in shelving the Friendly Societies Act Amendment Bill in the interests of the Union Steamship and other companies is subversive of the interests of the existing registered friendly societies, and inimical to those of the working class ; (4) that the Legislative Council as at present constituted is entirely out of touch with the democratic spirit which predominates in the j colony ; (5) that the Government will be ; fully justified in taking immediate steps to , secure a fair..representation of the interests of the people of the colony i" the Legislative Council with a view to prevent the mutilation and rejection by that body of measures passed in the House of Representatives by [ the representatives of the people."