WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 October 1919, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Our Special Correspondent),

WOMEN’S RIGHTS

OBSTRUCTION IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wellington, October 10

The disagreement between the House and the Council over the Women’s Parliamentary Rights Bill is threatening to lead to a serious conflict between the two Chambers. The point at issue now, of course, is not whether women should have the right to sit in both branches of the Legislature, but whether the House has the right to promote legislation affecting the constitution of the Council. The Speaker of the Council has ruled that it has not, and the Council has amended the Bill accordingly, confining its operation to the House. The House has dissented from the amendment aud the Council has insisted upon it, with the result that the representative Chamber has asked fpr the usual conference. In moving to this effect the Prime Minister, as befitted his office, offered iio comment upon the position, but the leader of the Opposition expressed concern for the fate of the whole Bill and suggested the Council might preserve its dignity by introducing a Bill of its own. RECOGNITION OF WOMEN. The members who spoke on the subject were practically unanimous in their recognition of the right of women to sit in Parliament and of the good influence they would exercise in both Chambers. Sir Joseph Ward believed the appointment of women to the Council would enhance the dignity aud brilliancy of that body. Mr Wilford was satisfied women could not fail to do better than some of the present members of the Council did. Mr Isirt insisted that no sound reason could be adduced for the exclusion of women from either House. Dr Newman declared public opinion was strongly in favour of giving women full parliamentary rights and it would be absurd to concede to the nominated Chamber the right to say “no.” MrE. Newman was wholly in favour of the admission ot women to Parliament, but he was prepared to admit-there might be objections to the nomination of women which did not apply to their election.

PRACTICE AND PRECEDENT. The most weighty pronouncements on thecoiistitutioual question, however, came from Mr J. McCombs and Sir John Findlay. The member for Lyttelton said he had been unable to find any record of any action similar to that taken by the Legislative Council having been taken by the Blouse of Lords. He was confident, moreover, that no such restriction on the right of the representative Chamber existed in an}' Legislature in the world. Sir John Findlay spoke more guardedly. The Council could find precedent in history for raising most fantastic claims of privileges. He claimed, however, that the Upper House iu this country was in effect nominated by the Lower House and that there was no real justification for raising a question of privilege to oppose a Bill which had the endorsement of the popular Chamber. Mr McCallum, another member of the legal profession, confessed to having some sympathy with the Council. He thought that body, alter all, might be saving the Government of the day from an extremely difficult position. THE UETIMATE ISSUE. It is realised on all hands that the present difficulty between the two Houses is going to bring the suggestion for the abolition of the second Chamber into more prominence during the approaching election than it otherwise would have obtained. Even Dr Newman, who is not given to talking at large, said he long had believed there was no virtue in the bi-cameral system of legislation, which brought about incessant friction without securing any compensating advantages. Mr Isitt quoted the old saw “ Whom the Gods wish to destroy they first make mad ” aud neatly applied it to the condition and impending fate of the Council. The Labour members were all for abolition, as their accepted policy prescribes, and on this occasion they found more sympathisers than they had ever done before. It is doubtful if a majority of the present House is yet ready for such a radical reform, but the election campaign may stimulate public opinion in this direction.