LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18622, 28 April 1932, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THE ACT OF 1914. EFFECT AT PRESENT MOMENT. RESULT OF SUSPENSION. (Special Correspondent). WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Legislative Council Act. which ha?- been hanging over the head of General Assembly of New Zealand,” is now approaching its eighteenth anniversary, having been passed by both branches of Parliament and finally endorsed by the GovernorGeneral of the day, 111-s Excellency the Earl of Liverpool, on November 5, 1914. It is scarcely necessary to say, even at this distance of time, that this revolution in the political constitution of the Dominion’s Parliament was brought about by a promise made by the late Mr Massey during his successful campaign in 1913, and carried to fruition by his very capable and tactful colleague, Sir Francis Bell. It may be interesting to recall that Sir Francis, the leader of the Legislative Council, with a desire to avoid party conflict, from July, 1912, to December, 1928, including his four years in the National .Ministry from 1915 to 1919, a total of twenty-six years, holds the longest term of continuous service rendered by any politician within the British Empire.

The Act Itself. The Legislative Council Act *as it wa? shaped by Parliament was plain enough and presumably was accepted by the Governor-General without demur. A few paragraphs from its ‘commencement,’ ’interpretation,’ and ‘regulations’ -may be quoted. (1) This Act, except section twenty-three hereof, shall commence on January 1, 1916, section twenty-three hereof shall come into operation on the date of, the passing of this Act. (3) The Governor may from time to time, by Order in Council gazetted, make such regulations as are deemed necessary for the effective administration of this Act. (4) This'Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Constitution Act, and that Act shall be construed subject to the provisions of this Act. (5) Proposed laws appropriating revenue or money or imposing taxation shall not originate in the Council. ... The Council may not amend any proposed law so as to increase any proposed charge or burden on the people. And so on and •so on, It would seem, without any purpose likely to be detrimental to -the public at largo.

Opposition's Objection. When the Bill came before the House on the eve of the general election in 1914, however, the Liberal Party, with six Labour members at their back, took strong exception to the Reform Party starting off on the new system which would give It, Irrespective of the seven life members, a majority of whom were disposed towards Reform, a majority of eight members; in the second year a majority of eight; in the third year a majority of ten; in the fourth year (when there would be an election of twentyfour members the distribution of whom could not he foreseen) a majority of sixteen; in the fifth year a majority of eighteen; in the sixth year a majority of fourteen, by which time both the Reform and the Liberal nominated candidates would have been exhausted. As the Reform Party remained in office practically from 1911 to 1928 it is reasonable to suppose that it would have remained in possession of the Legislative Council under the scheme propounded by Mr Massey and Sir Francis Bell until its temporary rebuff of 1922.

What or the Future. Of course the Bill passed through both the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives without any effective opposition. Mr Massey and Sir Francis Bell had made up their minds that the measure, having been promised to the public, had to be de-

livered. It is doubtful if the rank and file of either the Council or the House attached much importance to the movement. Mr Massey was bent upon keeping his word and a sufficient majority followed him into the “Ayes” lobby without, it is said, wholly understanding the nature of their obligation. Early in the following session it was generally recognised that the Liberal Party had been considerably ■strengthened at the polls and Mr Massey made overtures to the leader of the Opposition for coalition during the progress of the war then expected to be a strife of no more than a year or so. Sir Joseph Ward stipulated for a suspension of the Legislative Council Act which had been carried through both Houses at the close of the previous seeslon and ultimately with the good offices of the Governor-General got his way. And there the matter still rests.