UPPER HOUSE REFORM

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 43, 20 February 1930, Page 9

UPPER HOUSE REFORM

PROPOSED REFERENDUM

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, 13th February.

The State Government is sotting.the stage for the coming referendum battle on the question of Legislative Council reform in New South Wales, in accordance with its election mandate.

Tho efficiency of the Upper House is not impugned by the Government. In fact, it is generally regarded, in debating strength and in personnel, as a far superior chamber to the lower elective House. What the Government fears is that if the Labour Party is returned at the next election the Legislative Council will be wiped out entirely. The Government's attitude is that it is better to amend it than end it. The Upper House Beforin Bill is being hotly denounced by some members of thai chamber, because of the electoral basis on which it is to be reconstituted, i Opposition to the Bill is on tho ground mainly that, members should bo elected to the new Upper House on tho ordinary electoral franchise, and that that chamber will, in effect, under the reform measure, bo constituted of politicians owing their election, not to the electors, but solely to members of the State legislature, subservient, in turn, to those who pull the strings in the political machines.

The new Council will be by election of the State legislature, including members of the Legislative Assembly. The eld brigade is bringing out all its heavy guns in defence of its citadel.