ELECTIVE UPPER HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 141, 10 March 1920, Page 6

ELECTIVE UPPER HOUSE

ACT TO BE REVIEWED. One of the plunks in the platform of the Eeform Party when they first came into office in 1912 was the reform of the Legislative Council, to make it an elective Chamber. After a long struggle the new Government succeeded in Retting the necessary legislation through Parliament, but no sooner ivas this done than the war broke out, and it became necessary to form the National Government. One of the conditions of the formation of the Coalition Government was that the operation of, the- new Act should bo postponed, and the law is not yet .in' operation. . The present position is that the Act is not to come into effect until Parliament has had another opportunity of reviewing it and unless there is a great press, of other business this will be done during the coming session. Ihe only hint ot possible amendment I that has teen given L till now is that the. Prime Minister has said that in his opinion it may be necessary to make some provision for a number of nominated members in the Upper House. The object of such a change could be only to give, the House of Representatives a measure of control over the Second Chamber, the Government being chosen from the party, having t majority in the House of Representatives. _________