AN UPPER HOUSE REFORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21295, 23 September 1932, Page 8

AN UPPER HOUSE REFORM

By carrying the second reading of the bill for its own reconstruction, the Legislative Council of New South Wales has indicated its readiness to further the Government's determination to end a position that became a scandal during Mr. Lang's regime. The nominee system was flagrantly abused, Mr. Lang's additional appointments making the Council much larger than the elected Assembly and "creating continual friction in high places. Instead of enhancing the stability and dignity of the Legislature, the Upper House became a byword. During the last Parliament the votes of many of its members were used to serve ends in conflict with the general interests of the State. No way of amendment, short of abolition of the Council, was available. Abolition was not desirable, and the only practicable recourse was the adoption of the elective principle, its application taking the form suggested in the Bryce Report for the reconstitution of the House of Lords. This may not give the ideal method, but it presents an opportunity to raise the Council again to the high standard from which it fell. After its passage through Parliament, the bill must be submitted to a referendum. There should be an endorsement of the scheme, unless the State votes very differently from the way it took when the Lang Government was so signally defeated in the last general election. The Agent-General of that Government has predicted popular rejection of the scheme, but his wish may be father to his thought. He does not like the bill, because under its provisions, which include proportional representation, he cannot see any hope of a Labour majority in the Council and therefore trusts it will prove unacceptable to the people. This is an interesting comment. If Labour votes in the State are able to defeat this project, so manifestly against their partisan domination of politics, why did they fail to keep Mr. Lang in office 1 ? Reform of the Upper House was definitely included in the policy on which the present Government went to the country, and this policy had overwhelming approval. There is a mandate, consequently, for radical change, and what is now proposed seems the best course in the circumstances. It may mean a setback to Labour's hopes, but if the electors accept it that party will have no ground for complaint that it is unfairly represented ih the new Council. It should be satisfied with a minority of seats in a chamber theoretically comprising representatives of all sections of the community.