LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Colonist, Volume LIV, Issue 13507, 29 August 1912, Page 6

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

lliwn'Jii* t'Ki^s Association.]

VswHsAgi^a, August 23

Tho Council met at 2.30

Tho ijuprost Jjiii was put "through uU i*& su:g'jb, being unaiscuss-

Tho debuto on tiie Legislati\ o Council Mectioas i^iii was roanniNjd by Mr. Orinoua, who urged that t*.o seeoud reading shouid bu passed. 'I ho pi-ovis-ion for" election would, hi»wc\or, require ■to be -altered, or i.ho council would bo the domin<;.;it House, as being moro repixjsentative of tlie people. He would be glad to soo tha provisions of tho J3ill i-eicrred to tiio people, and tho Government's attention conccntraied upon -other things. Mr bte»e:is c::id tho Council in the past had do:io good work, but it was jio longer a ro.J political force. The iGovornr.ient for years had practically extinguishes origination in public :matters on the part of the Council, and ifor that reason no measures of real sound importance had come from that body. He advocated the adoption of the system of an electoral college, instead of the pi-oposod system. Mr Besha.n said his view was nomination, or total abolition of tho Council* He did not boli«\o in the duplication of the electoral system for both Houses. Tho Government of tho day should be prepared to take the responsibility of appointments to the Council. ' Mr Tucker said tho f"ct that the Chamber had existed for 50 years without a serious change might be taken as an indication that no great change was required. He hold the members of the Council were already elected "by the people under tho prcssnt system, for the representatives of tho people ultimately chose tho members of the Council. \He feared the farmers would not receive adequate .representation under this Bill. The Council then adjourned until the evening. The Council resumed ct 7.30. Mr Tucker continued the debate. He expressed his intention of voting against the measure. , Mr Wigram detailed the proposals embodied in and the fate of previous similar measures. Ho would vote for the second reading because lie .favoured the elective principle. Mr Baldey said he would support the second reading, but would *opposo Clause 5, which provided for the electorates, this, he considered, being against tho interests of the small farmers.

Mr T. Thompson admitted that there was a public desire for a change of the system of appointments, but thought tho Bill went too far. He would vote for the second reading but hoped the Government would act on Mr Ormond's suggestion. ■ Major' Harris thought the Bill was a crude one, and that there was not a real public demand for reformation of the Council. He would, however, vote for tiie Gecond rcxling and reserve his opposition for the later stages. Tho Council was adjourned at 9.15 p.m.