LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ACT

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 304, 17 September 1920, Page 8

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ACT

GOVERNMEJIT STANDS BY ELECTIVE PRINCIPLE .<

RESTRICTION BILL

• In the legislative Council yesterday afternoon the Hon. J. B. Gow moved the motion of which he had given notice, expressing the opinion that the Legislative Council Act, 1914, which places thfe Council on an electivo basis, ought not to bo brought into operation. The Hon. C. Izard moved as an amendment that the Act ought not to be made effective in its present form. The Leader of this Council, Sir Francis Bell, 6tnted that the Government had never declared an intention of abandoning the Act, He would not be a party to any legislation affecting the principle of the Act. nor would he remain in an Administration which, produced such legislation although ho was prepared to consider amendments on points of detail. The debate was adjourned. ,y The Prime Minister'made a statement in the House of Representatives regarding wool prospects. The Railway Statement was laid on the table, and gave rise' to a general debate regarding railway matters. The committee stage of the Immigration Restriction Bill was taken in the evening, and gave rise to a lengthy debate. A Labour amendment proposing a severe education test for Asiatics, with limitation of the numbers entering the Dominion, was rejected. A few amendments proposed by the Prime Minister were adopted, but no material alteration was made in the effect of the Bill,