LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ACT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 30, 30 October 1919, Page 4

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ACT

AN UNFOUNDED CHARGE. The following question about the postponement of the Legislative Council Act, 1!) M, was asked by tho lion. J. MaeOiregor in the Legislative Coiuicil yesterday : "Has tho attention of the Loader of the Council been; directed to a, statement made in a leading article in tho 'New Zealand Times' to tlin effect, that Mr. Massey and his party are responsible for the postponement of the. coming into operation'of tho Legislative Council Act, 191-1; is it true, as was stated in the newspaper Press at the lime of the formation of the National Qovernmeiil, that such postponement was one of several stipulations made by Sir Joseph Ward, as Leader of the Liberal Parly, as a condition of his joining in the formation of this National Government; will the Leader of the ConiHl sin to the exact terms of such stipulation?" Sir Francis Bell replied: "There was a distinct undertaking by M'r. Massey*s Government, at the request and upon the stipulation of the Liberal Parly on joining tho Coalition, that the Legislative Council Act: should not come into force until one session at least after the. Coalition broke up. That is no news to this Council. It has been statfd dennitely by myself and by Mr. Mbssey and Sir Joseph ' Ward in 'another place." The Leader of (ho Council reform! nl Rome length to Hansard, ciuoinii'.therefrom' his utterances on each occasion on which nniPiidmonts designed to pnHpono the rominr into operation of the Act were moved. He concluded as follows:— "\ li'ive demonstrated that tliere was a stipulation and a condition made by (lie I Leader of Hie Liberal Party on Hie Coalition thai the Acl should remain in [ nbeynnrc. nnd Hint, from venr lo year i v,e have moved accordingly a poslnoitnnient of the Act, and that on each-oc-casion T have declared that as soon_ ( as Hip Coalition ended, it" the Mnswy dovernment was in power, the Act should be brought into force. There never lias ■been'any wavering of the Massey Government from its iiosition at any time, and nny statement that for any other reason tliiin tho .weemmil niado nnd nonoiivjiWy kept tho Bill lias boon postponed, is incorrect, and should not have Wn mnde by any person wlio look tho flight - est trouble lo invest innle Hie facts. .