SECOND BALLOT GONE.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 4699, 28 November 1913, Page 5

SECOND BALLOT GONE.

UPPER HOUSE APPROVES. LEGISLATIVE BILL PASSED. BY SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY. Electric Telegraph—Press Association Wellington, Last Night. In the Legislative Council this afternoon the Hon. H. 1). Bell, Minister of Internal Affairs, moved that the Council consider in Committee the amendments made by the House In the Legislative Act. The Hon. W. C. F. Carncross (Taranaki) protested against the method of introducing the matter contained in ■» the amendments, which should have „ gone through all stages. The Council had been to a large extent deprived of its privileges regarding the legislation of the country. What effect the Bill would have on future party elections had nothing to do with the Council, they not being interested in party politics. The Bill as it now stood could not have been introduced in the Council because it involved a grave constitutional change. He admitted that the clauses should have originated in the other House, hut should have been introduced in a separate Bill. Phe Second Ballot was not perfect, but arrived at what it sought by representation of the majority. If the Prime Minister was going ti introduce another elective measure next year he should have waited and made a full and complete Bill. He would like to hear the system of the preferential vote fully discussed. He would vote against the amendments. The Hon. J. Rigg (Wellington) said the proceedings in regard to the repeal of the Second Ballot work were unusual and were liable to great abuse. The Government had found the repeal of the Second Ballot obstructed, and had fallen back on party politics. His main objection to the repeal of the Second Ballot was that nothing had been provided in its place. He moved

an amendement that the Council disagreed with the amendments made by the House, and appoint a committee 1 1 draw up reasons. The Hon. G. Jones (Otago') did not think that anything objectionable had happened under the provisions of the second ballot. The interests of the country demanded that the electoral system by rectified at the earliest possible moment. It should not he piecemeal legislation. Sir G. M. O’Rourke (Auckland) declared the method of introduction was quite improper. Tf the Rill got into Committee he would propose that the Chairman leave the chair, and then the Council would hear no more about it.

The Hon. Win. Beehan (Auckland!

stated that the second ballot had not achieved its object, but simultaneously with its repeal some form of ballot which would guarantee majority

representation should have been introduced.

The Hon. W. W. McCardle (Auck land) favoured the immediate atxili tion of the second ballot.

Sir Wm. Hall-Jones (Wellington) stated that when the Second Ballot was introduced he did not think there would be more than a day or two between taking the first and second ballot. The long waits which had been practised had Jed to unnatural excitement. He favoured the repeal. The Hon. H. D. Bell, in reply, stated it. was quite absurd to say that if Parliament had got hold of something worse than the old systems it could not get rid of it without substituting something else. Preferential voting had been suggested, but to him that would be detestable because it led to so much bargaining and corruption. Members had said the Government was wrong to place such a serious amendment into such a Bill. The ruling of the Speaker in the other House was that amendments could be made. The Second Ballot Repeal Bill had been obstructed so that the Government had decided to take advantage of the Speaker’s ruling, whether it was right or wrong. He contended that the only question now before the Council should be whether or not the Second Ballot .should be repealed. The Hon. H. D. Bell’s motion to go into Committee was carried by 22 to 3.

In Committee the Hon. H. D. Bell moved that the Council agree to the new clause 3.

The Hon. J. Rigg moved a proviso that paragraph B of section 146 of the Legislature Act, 1908, shall, unless previously repealed, be deemed to be repea led on October 1, 1914. The paragraph in question provides that the Returning Officer shall declare the candidates receiving the highest number of votes to be elected. The amendment was lost by 18 votes to 6.

Sir G. M. O’Rourke moved that the Chairman leave the chair. Defeated by 15 votes to 8.

The Hon. J. E. Jenkins (Wellington) moved that section 3 come into operation only on September 1, 1914. Defeated by 17 to 6. The new clause was carried.

The Committee reported that it had agreed to the amendments when the Hon. H. I). Bell moved that the Cou» cil concur with the Committee’s reso* lution.

The Hon. J. Rigg opposed,the motion, which jyas carried by 16 to 6. The Council adjourned at 6 o’clock until Wednesday.