LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2027, 13 August 1920, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

ELECTION OF MEMBERS. 1 GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS. IFrom Our Own Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, August 12. The Government'a proposals for the amendment of the constitution, of the Legislative Council are contained in a measure —the Legislative Council Act "Ameudniont Bill—which was introduced in the Council this afternoon. The AcJ, which was passed in 1914, provides for the election of members of the Council, instead of the present system of nomination by Cabinet, but, up to the present, the Act, in so far as it provides for the election of Councillors, has not been put into operation. The present Bill contains the following provisions:—

The first electoral division shall be the northern part of the North Island; the second electoral division shall be the southern part of the North Island; the third electoral division shall be the northern part of the South Island; and the fourth electoral division shall be the southern part of the South Island. The boundaries shall be such as in the opinion of the Commissioners provide, with the nearest approximation, that the population of the first electoral division shall be the same as the population of the second electoral division; and that the papulation of the third electoral division shall be the same as the population of the fourth electoral division. The Governor-General may summon to the Council any person who is a member of the Executive Council. The number of persons holding office pursuant to this sub-section shall not at any time exceed two. Every person appointed a member of the Council under the last preceding subsection shall hold his seat therein so long as he continues to be a member of the Executive Council and no longer.