LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 15823, 23 July 1913, Page 8

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

BILL BEFORE THE UPPER HOUSE SPEECH BY MR BELL. ' (Psa United Pbkss Association.)

WELLINGTON, July 22. In the Legislative Council this afternoon tho Hon. Mr Bell moved the second reading of the Legislative Council Bill. He explained the tespects in which this Bill differed from that of last session. He asked

members to bear in mind that under the ■ first constitution proposed for New Zealand there was a provision for an elective Council, and at subsequent dates it had been proposed that the constitution of the Council should bo changed to one chosen by election. At the last general election both parties wore unanimous on the subject, and both- had striven to put the reform of the Council before the people, with tl.e result that there was a general consensus of opinion. throughout the country that a change was desired and necessary. That position was not disputed in the debate of last year. The Council considering this Bill was (with one or two exceptions) the same as had passed the Bill of last year by 24 votes to 8. Subsequently tho Council suspended that Bill because it' claimed a year's grace for consideration, and' it was beoause it had not finally rejected jt that it was again being introduced in the Council amd not in the HSus« of Representatives. It had been said that tho Government was not eincorc in bringing the Bill into the Council: That course had been followed on his advice because tho Council hod by its resolution, passed 011 the motion of Mr Ormond last year, promised to take the Bill again into consideration, and under those circumstances that wa6 the right placo to introduce it. He asserted that he and a.ll his colleagues were decidedly in earnest in presenting this Bill as. a part of their policy. He reviewed the authorities on proportional representation submitted by him last session, but he had certain new information. Tho House had since affirmed by large majorities that the Council should be reformed during tliis Parliament. He also quoted the Irish Act, the latest effort of legislative genius in Great Britain, to show that. Ur?e constituencies and proportional representation were being adopted for the election of tho Senate in trie new Irish Parliament. The Irish Act had given the Lower House the power of the purse, and that rule had been followed here, but in a contest between the two Houses on Bills other than Money Bills a joint sitting of both Chambers should determine the fate of the disputed measure. The Government had never contended that two electorates, as provided for in the previous Bill, wftro essential, and he had distinctly said, when moving the second reading, that he was prepared to accept amendments on the point. He would, however, suggest when in committee that the Taumarunui electorate should be put into the southern half of the North Island, and Napier into the northern half. Be defended tho allocation of an odd number of representatives in each electorate, and said that preferential voting was necessary where the transferable vote was used. The Government had no sympathy with the opinion expressed bv the Hon. Mr Samuel that they were not Bound to proceed with the reform of the Council, and they would sooner resign than fail to keep their pledge, to the country. He defended the elimination of the country quota of 28 per cent, over the cities, because it was impossible to have proportional representation aiid_ retain' it. The respects in which this Bill .differed from. the previous Bill were only such as he was prepared to meet in committee, and therefore he claimed, that there was no vital departure in principle He nsked i the Council to deal with the Bill, and let the Government' know what the Council wanted. He declared that the Government was in earnest, and if it held office the Bill was going to bixiome law. It was not trifling with tho question, and if the Bill did not pass this year lion, members knew that it would pass next year. Knowing that the Government was prepared to meet them in every reasonable way in committee, he asked them to fordilute and express their views, but. above all things, let them come to a decision on the Bil'.

The debate was adjourned on the motion of the Hon. Mr Sinclair, and the Council rose at 4.35 p.m.