LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3613, 28 August 1912, Page 5

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIONS

DEBATE IN THE UPPER HOUSE. [PEE PEESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, August 27. . When the Council met this afternoon Mr McCardle resumed the debate on tlie Legislative Council Elections Bill. He considered that the Government had the right to introduce any measure it considered to be for the good of the country. He. however, took exception to the promised electorates, as it would throw the elections into the hands of men who were able to have organisations over electorates. Where, would the country districts be under such a system. He reminded the Leader of the Council that great interests were centred in the country and that candidates from the country would be unknown generally here. He trusted that the Council would see that we should have some other system of election than the one proposed,. He pointed out that it would take- a great amount of capital for a country candidate to make his views known throughout tlie electorate. Nearly every city would have more than its fair quota of members in the Council and farmers would not be adequately represented.

He suggested the appointment of a committee to go into the whole question. He was prepared to vote for the second reading of the Bill and would do llis best to secure a reasonable system of representation. Mr Anstey said he would prefer to see the Council abolished rather than reformed in the terms of the present Bill.

Such a reform would be an abortion. There was no' particular failing on the nart of the Council that demanded reform. All tlie authorities quoted had advocated election, on a limited franchise or by some secondary mean. He contended that proportional representation in other countries resulted only in representation of factions —not of the people as a whole. The Bill before them would never give the ideal Council which should represent every main interest and locality in the Dominion. The large electorates would disfranchise the country districts. If he voted for the second reading it would be only for the purpose affording a fuller discussion. Mr Baillie said, he would vote for the Bill as containing some recommendations for a change, which was. __ he believed, the desire of the Dominion. He suggested that the House of Representatives should act as an elective college and the Government should have the right to nominate a certain numlier of member. Mr Callani said he would support the second reading. He was not wedded to tlie two electorates, but he held that they should not ■ bo small.

Mr Luke said this question of reform of the Council had been up for settlement to his knowledge for 40 years. There would be; no satisfactory solution until the Lower House was elected on a basis of proportional representation. Mr Luke advocated, say 10 seats in the North Island, but lie did not think the South with its smaller population should have equal representation. . He thought the Government should introduce a Bill embodying some system regarding the Lower House.

Mr Barr maintained that no serious charge had been brought against the Council in the country. It would be deplorable to have two systems of election in vogue at the same time. If they had proportional representation for the Council they should have the same for the House. Mr Barr said he favored the elective principle, but not the method advocated in the Bill. Mr Mills -said tlie cry of the people was for a change, but he had heard no o-ood reasons given for such a change. He would note for the second reading and, perhaps, in Committee they might so amend the Bill as to make it acceptable. The Council adjourned at 9.30 p.m.