THE REFORM BILL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1537, 5 September 1912, Page 6

THE REFORM BILL.

POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT SESSION. THE HON. ,T. D. ORMOND'S AMENDMENT CARRIED. The Hon. GEO. JONES continued the debate on tho motion for committal of tho Legislative Council's Election Bill and the Hon. .1. D. Ormoud's amendment, which amendment provides that the Council, instead of going into Committee on the. Bill, should postpone consideration of tho matter until next session, in order that the electors of the Dominion may be given the opportunity of considering tho proposals for giving effect lo the Bill. The Will of the People. Mr. Jones said there had been no decisive mandate on anything at the last elections. The fact that the party in power was retained by siich a small majority, and that there were only a small majority' in' the House, proved this. They could not do the will of the people unless they knew what Miat will was. The people knew very little about the Bill. Under the proposed system, with two huge electorates, the large metropolitan papers would have a very great say in the election of the Council. Again, only wealthy men with influence or strong organisation behind them could be elected under tho Bill. He did not think it was unreasonable lo ask tho postponement of the consideration of the measure. In tho interval the matter could be debated on the platform and in tho newspapers. If tho people read this Bill they would decide that, it was too intricate for their conception, and that it was not a measure to enable them to exercise their electoral rights in a simple and effective way. The passing of the second reading meant absolutely nothing. Members thought this was courteous to thr Government and others wanted it to go to committee, where, if he had his way, it would have been cut down until only the imprint was left. He did not think tliere would be loss of time in postponing the matter, but rather would it be lost if they went on with the Bill, as it would block more important matters. Only a Loss of.Time, J'he Ho'n. J. ANSTEY thought Iho. Lender of the Council placed them in a rather unfair position when he said that, in voting for the second reading they affirmed tho elective principle. He had not voted for this. He had voted for the second reading because he affirmed the desirability for some change. He did not think they should proceed with Iho. Bill. If they wen! into committee they ■would soon find themselves in antagonism to wjiat tlia Government desired/ and as a^.

result the Bill would be withdrawn. This would only mean loss of time. He indicated (hat he would support the amendment. A Plea for Consistency. The Hon. J. B. CALLAX said that the constitutional position was that when the second reading was passed the principle of the Bill was affirmed. Ho said ho would vote for the committal of the, Bill. It would he iv mistake for the Council to do otherwise. It would be most undignified. They had agreed to the principle of the Bill, and said in effect that they were not capable of working it out. Having passed the second reading they should/bo consistent, and in unison with their own dignity'and position go on. Ho trusted that for the dignity of the Council and its position before the country, they would reject the. amendment. Leave Things Alone for a Year. < The Hon. T. Y. DUNCAN said lie thought that the Bill as" brought down was unworkable. Ho thought it would be better to leave the Bill alone for this year. They were not—or at least he was not—in'the* frame of mind to bring in a workable measure which would give a fair deal to the people. Hon, Mr. Barr's Position. The Hon. ,1. BARR said he would support the proposal that the Bill should go into committee. In committee each member would have an opportunity of expressing his ideas and opinions. This concluded the debate. The Division. On a division the motion for the committal was defeated, and the amendment ■ was carried, the voting being as under:— For the Amendment (20)— Baillio Stevens George ■ Miller Rigg Kelly .Tenkinson Anstey Jones Harris , Beehan . Thompson Gilmer Louisson Baldie Mills ' Johnston Duncan Onnond Samuel Against the Amendment (13)— Bell Smith Callan,, Collins Luke ' Loughnan Paul M'Lcan Barr M'Cardle Stoward AVigrara Parata The Council rose at 3.55 p.m.