N.S.W. UPPER HOUSE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1925, Page 3

N.S.W. UPPER HOUSE

1 Australia & N.Z. Cable Association

A WIC'KKTI SWIiXni.R

PARI.IA.MKNT DKG It ADKD AND DKBASKD. SVDNKIV. Doc. 22. In 11 10 Assoinlily .Mr Bavin asked a question of the Premier as to whether tlie Upper House would lie abolished. .Mr Lane replied that lie was at presold not prepared to make any statement. Another question asked, was whether when the appointments were made, Mr Lung would order the Hags to ho halfmasted to signify the death knell of Constitutional Government.

Speaking to a motion for the adjournment' Mr Bavin drew attention to the occurrences in the Council marking a revolution in the Constitution. Tlie matter was of vital importance, ns the Constitution was entirely revolutionised. It was never suggested that the Council should l>e a mere body for endorsing measures passed by Governments: hut the present Govern incut had set up ail entirely now claim, which, apparently, has been endorsed bv the Governor, that a Government with a majority in the Assembly omilfl pass any measures it liked whether the measures were a part of the policy it went to the electors with or not. That was an entirely new principle in the constitution, and if that pronciple l»e continued, the Coun(il would become an absurdity and the sooner it was abolished the hotter. Air Bavin continuing, said lie believed the Governor had been assured that the Council would not he abolished. hu£ he believed also that it was far from certain that the assurance would not he broken. It was a very wicked swindle never before perpetrated. The new Councillors were appointed 0,1 conditions that no decent man would accept; they were utterly unfitted for the positions or they would never have accepted them on the degrading terms upon which they had accepted them. Mr Bavin concluded hy saving that Parliament was now degraded and debased and the Government had Invoked , the aid of the King’s representative in debasing it.