LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3608, 22 August 1912, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

DISCUSSED BY THE UPPER HOUSE. (PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Auo 21. When the Council met this afternoon, Mr. Bell (Minister for Internal Affairs) moved the second reading of the Legislative Council Elections Bill. He said that the proposed change was front a selected to an elected Second Chamber responsible to the direct vote of the people at the polls, and if the principle of the change was approved all else was definition of the method bv which the change should bo effected, and on that- high level he hoped the debate would be conductedDetails of the Bill were the proper subject for debate, but not as a factor of the vote of any member on the second reading. It was on a principle of election against nomination, and not on the method that the Government at this stage sought'a vote of the Council. The Minister then proceeded to give a summary of the efforts to varv the Constitution and an explanation of the principles and details of the measure and the,reasons which had led the Government to introduce the Bill. I'ncidentallv he declared that the change made in IS9I from life tenure to seven years was in the essence unsound, and he pointed out that so far hack ..as 1883 the Whita-k-or-Atkinson Government declared that “publicopinion was fast coming to the conclusion that an elective should be substituted for the nominee Chamber.” Since 1891 the rarest ion of Council reform Had been constantly debated in the eounti-v and in both branches of the Legislature constantly throughout the past.2l years. The party now led hv Mr. Massey bad been in favor of an elective Council, and at the last election the change was advocated by men of all parties. The present state of affairs was wltollv improper and anomalous. It did not create.a Chamber independent of tho Government that appointed it. Noi- did it create a revising Chamber. Details of certain matters had been

designedly omitted, from the Bill to be dealt with at a later stage. One was Maori representation and another was the method to lie pursued in connection with disputes between the two branches of the Legislature. As it was impossible- to have seititineers at the 8000 booths, it was proposed that the Governor should appoint on the nomination of the Council four scrutineers, two to act for each Island on behalf of sill candidates. The ordinary term of tenure of the Council would he six years.

If the House required- to .go to the country in the interval, then half the Council would also go to the country.

This offered a big opportunity for introducing new blood. The ideal of proportional representation was a body representing all sections of the community. That was proportional representation.

• He was prepared to accept reasonable amendments, and even a complete alteration in some sections, but the Government wordd not accept any method of secondary election. It was part; of the Government policy to discard patronage. It was their desire to administer for the benefit of the country, not for the benefit of a narty. Thev would either pass the measure or be defeated at the polls. Walit he nroiiosod was for the dignity of the Council as a whole as in the interests of the country as a whole. Mr. George (Auckland) moved the •adjournment of the debate, and the Council rose