THE UPPER HOUSE.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17410, 24 May 1928, Page 6

THE UPPER HOUSE.

REFORM ADVOCATED. LITTLE KNOWN PRE-WAR ACT. The existence of a law on the Statute Book which has never been enforced owing to the intervention of the war was brought to the notice of delegates to the Provincial Conference of. the Farmers’ Union this morning by Mr W. Lee Martin, M.P. The remit, which was brought down hv the executive, was worded as follows: “That the Upper House should be elected as provided by the law now in the Statute Book.” ‘‘Although I believe the Upper House should be abolished together, ’ said Mr Martin, ”1 am going to support this remit because I think it is a step in *ie right direction. There are 41 members of the Legislative Council now, and there have been as many as aO. Prior to 1891 the members were all appointed for life but after that an election was instituted every 7 years, the sitting members being eligible for re-election. Now in 1914 an Act similar to the proposals we are now advocating was passed, but at the outbreak of war the Coalition Government was formed, and all contentious questions were dropped. This Act has remained on the Statute Book and has been neither amended nor repealed. "Briefly the Act provides for the division of the country into four electorates and for the election of 4 0 members to the Upper House on a population basis. They are to be elected by ine proportional vote. Thus if farmers, labourers and merchants can be represented in the Upper House, the Chamber would be of some material use.” Another delegate considered the House served no useful purpose. It was a legacy from the British Parliament and should be abolished. Three retired Supreme Court judges could be appointed to revise measures put through by the Lower House. It was decided to send the remit on to the Dominion Conference.