GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14835, 28 November 1913, Page 9

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

(abridged tress associatio.v bepoht.)

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

* TntmsDAY, November 27. AFTERNOON 1 SITTING. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. IMPREST SUPPLY BILL. The Imprest Supply Bill (No. 6) was put through all ite stages. I BILLS INTRODUCED. ! Tho Land Agents Act Amendment Bill, Piro 3rigades Act Amendment Bill, Patterns, Designs, and Trades Marks Act Amendment Bill, Divorces and Matrimonial Causes Act Amendment Bill, and Law Practitioners Act Amendment Bill were introduced and read a first time. LEGISLATURE BILL. The Hon. F. H. D. BELL moved that tho Speaker leave tho Chair'u> enable the Council to consider in Committee the amendments" made by the House of Representatives in the Legislature Bill. Tho Hon. W. C. F. CARNCROSS protested against this method oi introducing the matter contained in the amendments. The Council had been to a large extent deprived of its privileges, regarding tho legislation of the country. What effect tne Bill would have on future party elections had nothing to do with the Council, they not being interested in party politics. The Bili as it now stood could not have been introduced in the Council because it in\*olved a_ grave constitutional change. He admitted that the clauses should have originated in the other House, but should have been introduced in a separate Bill. He must recognise, however, that there wore many difficulties in the way of the Government. The second ballot was not a perfect system, but it arrived at what it sought—representation of the majority. The Hon. J. RIGG said hia main odjection to the repeal of the Second Ballot was that nothing had been provided in its place. He was not satisfied with the second ballot, but he preferred ifc to the old system. Hβ moved as an amendment to. Jlr Bell's motion: —"That the Council disagree with the amendments mado by the House of Representatives, and appoint a committee to draw up reasons for so disagreeing/*' The Hon. 0. SAMUEL considered that the present method of introduction was objectionable, but necessary. He entirely disagreed thai the system

of election to which it proposed to revert was not satisfactory. Tho experiment of the second ballot had been tried unwisely and found wanting. His objection to the second ballot and preferential voting was his strong disfavour to party government. A nian of bad character might bo elected simply because he represented » , c ? r " tain party. The evils of party politics had made this country almost unfit to livo in. , , The Hon. GEORGE JONES said he did not think that anything objectionable had happened under the provisions of the Second Ballot. The interests or the country demanded that the electoral system should be rectified at the earliest possible moment. There should not be piecemeal legislation. The Hon. C. H. MILLS said he considered that the second ballot had been disastrous. . , , Tho Hon. J. B. CALLAN hoped to see proportional representation introduced. , Sir Maurice O'RORKE declared that the method of introduction was quite improper. If tho Bill got into Committee, he would propose that the Chairman leave tho Chair, and then the Council would hear no inoro about it. (Laughter.) The Hon. W. BEEHAX stated that the second ballot had not achieved its object, but simultaneously with its repeal'some form of ballot which would guarantee majority representation should have been introduced. Ho asked the Leader of the Council if tho Government would introduce legislation next session providing for majority representation. The Hon. W. W. McCARDLE said he favoured immediate abolition of the second ballot. Sir AViUiam BALL-JONES stated that when tho second bnllot was introduced ho did not think there would be more , than a day or two between the taking of the first and second ballots. The long waits which had been practised led to unnatural excitement. He favoured the repeal. Tho Hon. F. H. D. BELL, in reply, stated that it was quite absurd to say that if Parliament had_ got hold of something worse than tTio old system, j it could not get rid of it without sub- ■ stitutine something else. Preferential voting; had been suggested, but to him that was detestable, because it would lead to much bargaining and corrup-i tion. Members had said that tfie Government were wrong to place such a serious amendment into such a Bill. Tho ruling of the Speaker in the other Houso was that amendment could ha made. The Second Ballot Repwil Bill I had been obstructed, so the Government had decided to take advantage of the Speaker's ruling, whether it was ripht or wrong. He contended that the only question now before tho Council should bo whether or not the second ballot should bo repealed. Mr BELL'S motion to go into Committee was carried by 22 votes to 3. i In Committee Mr BELL moved that the Council aa;rep to now clause No. 3. Tho Hon. J. RIGG moved a proviso that naragraph B of section 145 of the Legislature Act, 1908, shall, unless previously repealed, bo deemed to bo repealed on October Ist, 1914. Tho paragraph in question provided that the returnmg officer shall declare the candidate receiving the highest number of votes to be elected. Mr Rig£ explained that he wanted to make a blank in the Legislature Act which would have to bo filled up, but he desired to giro the Government plenty of time to fill tho blank. The amendment was lost by 18 votes to 6. . ■ Sir Maurice O'RORKE carried out j his threat, and moved that the Chairman leave the Chair. He said he merely desired to get a division on the question. The motion was defeated by 15 votes to 8. The Hon. J. E. JENKINSON moved that ser-tion 3 should come into operation only on September Ist, 1914. ■ This was defeated by .17 votes to 6. Tho new clause was carried. .. Tho Hon. F. H. l>. BELL moved that the Council concur with tho Committee's resolution. Tho Hon. J. RIGG opposed, and said he wanted to divide the Council on the matter. He was not satisfied'in regard to the constitutional aspect of the question. Tho motion was carried by Iβ votes to 6. At 6 .p.m. tho Council adjourned until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday next.