COUNCIL REFORM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 144197, 13 September 1913, Page 3

COUNCIL REFORM.

COHM'm'EB’S: REPORT. ■POPULAR ELECTION CONDEMNED ELECTORAL COLLEGE PROPOSED. BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. • WELLINGTON, September 12. The Select Committee appointed by tho Legislative Council to,, report upon the reform of tho constitution of that Chamber, to-day presented its report to the Council. Its general trend is against the policy of the Government, as it condemns the provision Tor an election by tho people, and advances instead that members of tho Council shall be elected by the members of tho two Houses. , The' report as presented embodies formal resolutions upon the basis of which a new draft Bill is issued. This first resolution was passed unanimous-, ly, “That it-is expedient that the con-' stitution of the Council bo changed, wholly or partially, from tho present system of appointment by nomination to some system of election.” Tfio following resolution, proposed by the Hon. H. D. Bell, was defeated by fivo votes to three: <4 Thafc the system of election, of the Council b© direct attho polls by the same franchise as for tho House of Representatives.” The Hon. J. R. Sinclair’s motion,. “That as vacancies occur three-fourths of the number of European councillors bo elected at the polls, and that onefourtb of such councillors be nominated,” was negatived by six votes-to, The next resolution, proposed by tho Hon. J. D. Ormond, “That it is expedient that the number of European councillors be limited to the present . number (40), and that all vacancies as they occur be filled by election -by members of tho Council and of‘tho House;; of Representatives by ballot,” was carried by five votes.to four. .- : , On tho basis of this resolution,.‘the committee amended tho Bill clause-by clause to agree with the principle proposed. By tho same majority of : five , to four, tliis resolution, also proposed • by tho lion. Mr. Ormond, was passed: “That in tho opinion of the committee the coming into operation of the-Act, if passed, should bo deferred, until after ; the next general’election.’’v, ;J'\ l,,' Tho committee recommended finally that, subject-to tho decision > of tho Council upon this last resolution, the Legislative Council Reform Bill should bo amended to agree with tho draft Bill submitted by the committee. THE DRAFT BILL. The Bill as drafted by tho committee ■ provides that the members of" tho Council shall bo 40, exclusive of members -or tho Maori race. Whenever a vacancy, occurs a member shall bo elected by the votes.of members of tho two Houses.) of'Parliament. : When the SpeahOT TS-i; sues his warrant to tho derk of tho Council for an election, this intimation’ ■should bo gazetted, with tho date of ■ nominations and tho date of election, which shall bo 14. days after the iwm- , Hnations havo closed.: - A candidate -must ho nominated by at_ least two members of either House, with hi® con-, - sent, intimated -to tho clerk. - Whenj an election is necessary, tho dork shall 1 send forthwith by scaled letter address-, od to each member of either House or Parliament, a voting paper bearing the' names of tho candidates, and tho hour and day when tho election) closes. Members desiring to-vote shall indicate' their preference by a-cross opposite tho name of tho candidate, and shall for-; ■ ward their papers to tho clerk in pro-i per time. The day after tho close, of, the poll the clerk* of tho Council, .in. tha.. presence of two persons,, ono appointed! , by the Speaker of cadi House, shall open and examine tho voting papers,, and the candidates who have -received 1 ..the greatest number of votes, not ex•ceeding tho number of vacancies, shall bo declared elected. In tho case of an equality of votes, a-decisiou shalLhf arrivedat -by lot. ■ . SPECIAL- PROVISIONS. - It- is speciallv provided that iho-mem-her whoso term of office expires on! October 16,,1913 (Hon. T. KoUy), sbalL continue in office until December 22 next. Of tho twelve ifiorahers or the Council 'whoso term of office expires on .January 22, 1914, three shall retire-then, three shall remain in office until February 22 next, and thou retire, three shall remain till March 22 next and than retire, and tho remainder ..till I April 22 and then retire. Tho order in which these members aro to retire' is to be determined by lot. Evory member elected.to the Council shall hold , office for seven years. The Governor’s powers of nominating two Maori members are not interfered with. The Governor also may sum, mon to tho Council any duly qualified person being a member of the Execu tivo Council. AN ENGLISH MODEL. ... In.part 2, relating to the powerste'’" tho Council and House respectively, ax amendment is proposed which has foi its model one of the most important, provisions of the British Parliament 1 Bill, designed to prevent blocking by, tho House of Lords. This clause pro- • video that after a joint sitting of the' two Houses has boon held (as proposed by the -Hon. H. 1). Bell’s Bill), and-, tho measure as last proposed by tha House is not affirmed by tho vote of a' majority of that joint sitting, and the same Bill is road a third time in -the, next succeeding session and sent Op to., the Council at least one month before tho end of that session, and is not passed by the Council, or is materially ab tored, then the Bill on its rejection for tho third time shall, unless the House directs to tho contrary, bo presented to : the Governor and become an Act ol Parliament, notwithstanding that the Council has not to the Bill. , This provision is not to have> effect unless at least two years have elapsed between tho date of the second reading on its first introduction and the : data of the third reading in the last session concerned. Other machinery altera, tions' aro provided to carry out tin effect of these provisions. No_ othej material alterations aro made in thi .principle of tho Bill.