WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1919, Page 3

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Our Special Correspondent). WOMEN’S RIGHTS.

THE QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.

| WELLINGTON, October 22. Several members of the House of Reps while entirely favourable to the admission of women to Parliament think this recognition of their rights will bo dearly bought by the concession to the Legislative Council that it has the sole right of initiating legisla-

on affecting its own constitution. They maintain that this concession has given to the Second Chamber in New Zealand a power which is not possessed by any other Second Chamber in the British Empire and that in years to come it may prove an insurmountable obstacle to reform. They refuse to be comforted by the reflection that both branches of the Legislatures here have affirmed the principle of an elective Upper House. An elected Council, they declare, might make the position worse than ever, by clothing the members with the colour of a mandate from the constituencies and entitling them to stand out against the wishes of the Lower House.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION* There is, of course, some force in this contention. The Act oassed five years ago, and now held in suspense provided that in the case of disagreement between the two Houses they should sit together and decide the point at issue by a vote of a majority of the two chambers. But it is quite conceivable is expedient would not result in a decision that would be acceptable to a majority of the members of the Lower House. There might be a substantial majority in favour of reform in the House and yet a larger majority in the Council that would prevent the popular chamber getting its way. The members of the Council under the suspended Act, would be elected by bigger constituencies and for a longer term than the members of the House and apart from the joint) sitting there would be no provision for the settlement of their differences.

SECOND CHAMBERS. The discussion of the question, even if it has served no other useful purpose, lias brought into prominence the fact that two elected Chambers do not necessarily make for the speedy registration of the wishes of a majority of the people in legislation. Under the present system a Government with a sufficient majority behind it in the House can overcome the Opposition of an obdurate Council by tile appointment of additional “Lords”. That is the trump card which always leaves the last trick in the political game in the hands of the occupants of the Treasury Benches. It is not often necessary to play it, as the knowledge of its existence usually makes the other branch of the Legislature amenable to reason, but it remains as one of the main pillars in the edifice of the Dominion’s constitution. ’ The lobby talk now concerning the Council is rather of abolition than of reformation. THE' COUNCIL’S WAY.

Meanwhile the’Council having established for the time its right to have the custody of its own constitution is hastening to set itself right with its critics. Sir Francis Bell gave notice yesterday of his intention to introduce a Bill embodying the clause the Council has deleted from the Bill sent up from the House. It simply proposes that neither sex nor marriage shall prevent women f rorii being appointed .to the Second Chamber', and from all that can be gathered to-day it seems likely that the measure will make is way on to the Statue Book. There are, however, a considerable number of members of the Council holding to the view that while women, are entitled to a place in the Lower House if the constituencies care to send them there, it would be very undesirable to entrust any Government with authority to stuff the Upper House with members of the other sex. But probably these ungallant gentlemen will swallow their prejudices when they are face to face with the need for decision.

[The Council threw out the Bill .on Thursday by 18 votes to B.]