LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1920, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

STRONG VOTE AGAINST ELECTION.

AN INTERESTING POSITION.

(Our Parliamentary Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 17

The Legislative Council rather surprised itself this afternoon by carrying very emphatically Hon Gow’s motion urging the Government not to bring into operation the Legislation Council Act of 1914. Hon Izard who had moved an amendment proposing that the Act should not be put into operation in its present form, withdrew his proposal. Mr Gow told the Council that his motion was merely a frank response to the Prime Minister’s invitation to dicuss the suspended Act. The councillors then proceeded to a division and carried the motion by 23 votes to 5, minority consisting of Sir F. D. Bell, Sir W. Fraser, Sir. AV. Hall Jones, Hon Harris and Izard. The effect.of this resolution will be watched with interest by members of Parliament.

Sir F. D. Bell stated yesterday that Government had not abandoned the elective principle as proposed to be applied to the Council and that he would not remain in : an administration that did abandon than principle, but notwithstanding this assurance there is a strong opinion in the lobbies that the Government would ,be glad to quit of the Act, which provides for an election of the Council on proportional representation basis. The ground for this opinion is the probability that a Council elected by proportional representation would differ in the strength of parties from the House elected under the present system, while it would have an equal right to claim to represent the electors.

The Council’s resolution does not necessarily have any effect at all since-the Act will come info operation automatically if left untouched by the Government.