LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12889, 23 July 1913, Page 4

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

(By Telegraph.) (Per Press A«soi:iation.l I ' WELLINGTON, July 22. The Council met at 2.30. Tho Hon. Samuels moved th.c second ' reading <tf McDoiugall's Trust Estate 1 Bill, a private Bill to enable surviving i children to participate in a will. I Tiie reading was carried on tho voi-

COS. ... The Hon. Dr Collins moved requesting ihe Government tto procure information from Australia regarding the working of the Prisoners' Detention Act, with a view to introducing similar legiatalion here. Tho Hon. Bell said tho Government would procur© the information dtsired. Tho motion was carried. Tho Hon. Bell moved the second reading of the Legislative Council Bill. He explained the points of difference be* t'.veen tho previous measure and this. Ho pointed out that the first constitution proposed for Now Zealand provided for an elective Council. Several Tosolutions had since been proposed to that effect. Both the political parties agreed upon it at last election, and consequently the concensus of opinion vn the country was that a change was necessary. Last year the Council affirmed tho priuciple of election, but subsequently suspended discussion of the Bill, claiming a year's graco for the consideration of the Bill. The Bill now reintroduced would gi»re tho Council an opportunity to carry out tho understanding of last year. lie drew attention to the fact that since tho debate in the Council the House of Representaives had affirmed by a large majority _ that Die reform of the Council was desirable during this Parliament.- The Irish Acti contained precisely the Sf.mo provision for elections of the Senate under Home Rule. The power of'.iho purse was given to tho Lower House, but disputes concerning all but mone:/ Bills were to V t.eUlod by n joint sitting of the two Chambers. Tho division of tho islands into two electorates was no departure in principle from the" Bill of last year, but ho would move in committee to put the Taumarunui electorate an tho southern half of the ?>orth Mand and Napier in the northern half. The Government \va-s determined that tho Bill should pass, if pot this year, then next. He assured the Ooundl that ho would meet all reasonable objections in the committee stage. Whatever opinions

Councillors held, he invited them io : formulate and.express them, but abovb all to come to a decision on the meaSUllhe debnto was adjourned on the motion of : the Hon. Sinclair, and the Council roso at 4.35.