UPPER HOUSE REFORM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15662, 16 July 1914, Page 9

UPPER HOUSE REFORM.

ATTITUDE OF MEMBERS.

GOVERNMENT'S MAJORITY.

Two divisions have already been taken in tho Legislative Council on the proposal by the Government to substitute an elective constitution for the present system of nomination. On September 4, 1912, tho motion to commit the Bill was defeated by 20 votes to 13, and on October 1, 1913, a clause embodying the principle of election by the people was rejected by 14 votes to 13.

The two division lists afford an indication of the attitude towards tho Government's policy of the members who par' ticipated in the previous deliberations upon the measure Three of those mem bers have not yet voted. The Speaker, Sir C. C Bowcn, was in the chair on the first occasion, and, therefore, did not vote, and on the second occasion, he did not take part in the division. Tho Hon. W. C. F, Carncross was absent from the first division, and, as he was chairman of committees, he did not vote on the second occasion. Sir William Hall-Jones was appointed to the Council on October 8 last year, and has, therefore, not taken part in any proceedings relating to the measure. The attitude of the remaining members may be judged from the previous divisions to be as follows :—

For the Bill (13) Against tho iJill (14) Barr Baillie Bell Baldey Collins Beehan Duthie Duncan Earnshaw George Hardy Hams Louisson Johnston McLean Jones Nikora Miller CRorke Mills Parata Orrhond Paul Samuel Wigram Stevens Thompson i

Though ho voted against the Bill on, tho first occasion, the Hon. C. Louisson supported the proposal last year, and is therefore included in the list of supporters. The present position in the Council is, therefore, that 13 of the old members, including the Hon. W. E. Collins, have voted for the change, 14, including the Hon. 0. Samuel, have voted against it, three of the old members have not voted, and tho remaining nine new members are, presumably, in favour of the Bill.