LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13506, 28 August 1912, Page 6

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

[Units;:d Fbess Association.]

WeHSngton, August 27.

The Council met at 2.30 -p.m.

Mr. McOardle resumed the debate en the Legisjative Council Elections Bill. ■He -considered the Government had a right to .introduce, any measure' they considered to bo for the good of the country. He took exception to the proposed electorates, as it would throw elections into the hands of men who were able to have organisations at their back over the electorates. Where would tho country districts be under such a system? Ho reminded the leader of the Council that great interests were centred in the country, and candidates from .the country would be unknown generally. He trusted that the Council would see that there was some other system than the one proposed. He pointed cut that it would take- a great amount of capital for a country candid date to make bis views known throughout an electorate. Nearly ©very city would have more than its fair quota of membens in the Council, 'and farmers would not be adequately : represented. He" suggested . the appointment of a committee to go into the whole question. He was prepared to vote for the second reading. He would do his best to ...secure a reasonable system of representation. . -

Mr. Anstey said he would prefer* to ,see the Council abolished than reformed in the terms of the present Bill. Such a reform woijld be an abortion. There wa,s no particular failing on (the part of the Council that -demanded reform at all. The authorities quoted had advocated election on • a limited francvhise, or by.some-secondary means..He contended that proportional representation in other countries resulted only in the representation of. factions, not of the poop'.e a,s a whole. Tho Bill before them would never give an ideal Council which .should represent every, main interest, and locality in the Dominion. The large electorate's would disfranchise the country districts. If he roted for the second reading it would only be for the purpose of affording fuller discus-

sion. M'r. Baillie said he would vote for the Bill as containing some recommendation for a change, which was, ho believed, the desire of the Dominion. He suggested that the House of Representatives should act as an elective college, and the Government should have a right to nominate a certain number of the members.

Mr. Callan said unless somo such change as proposed were effected, the Council woiild, he believed, be abolished. If election was adopted a necessary branch of the Legislature would survive. He would support the second road ing. He wa,p. not wedded to two electorates, but held they should not be ir.mall one*. >.

j Mr. Luke said the question of reform of the Council had been up for settlement to his knowledge for forty years. There would bo.no satisfactory '-solution' until the Lower House was elected on the basis of proportional representation. Tlio Council then adjourned. f The Council resumed in the evening. 1 Mr. Luke continued his .speech. He advocated that the North Island should have (ten seats but the South Island, ■Infvvm'g fa .smallea- population,; should have a less number.

Mr. Barr faA'-oured the elective principle, but not tlie method advocated in the Bill.

Mr. Mills would vote for the second reading, hoping amendments would be made in the Bill when going through corrDmittee. The Council rose at 9.30 p.m.