N.S.W. UPPER HOUSE

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1925, Page 1

N.S.W. UPPER HOUSE

[Australia & N.Z. Cable Association.]

THE APPOINTMENTS,

A BLOW AT CONSTITUTION

SYDNEY, December 21

There were originally over three hundred applicants for appointment to the Legislative Council, and these were reduced to 0110 hundred and forty-seven, including nineteen women. Three ballots, the lirst of which excluded all women, were required to select the 36 whose names Mr Lang (Labour Premier) submits to the Governor, lhey are mostly ex-Labour members, Parliamentary candidates and union officials.

The selection of a few 11011-industrial-ists is resented in Labour circles and provides possible ground for sectional hostilities.

SYDNEY, December 21

Mr Lang has been advised by the. Governor that the latter will agree to the appointment of twenty-live new members of the Legislative Council. An Executive Council meeting will he held to-day or to-morrow when the appointments will be made and the new members subsequently sworn in. Mr Lang will approach the Governor to-day and will submit thirty-live nominees and press for their appointment. Each now member of the Council will be required to take a pledge that he will vote for the abolition of the Council. A bill for this purpose is being brought down next session. A move has also been launched by a section of flic Labour Party to abolish the office of State Governor, when the present Governor’s term expires.

With the additional appointments to the Council the Government will have an absolute majority of three in that Chamber.

Mr Bavin states he could not bring himself to believe that such a staggering blow was to ho struck n.L the Constitution. The State Government had no shadow of a mandate for such legislation and to make such an unprecedented number of appointments to the Council, merely to force through proposal s which were not even supported by more than a small proportion of pledged Labour representatives in the Upper House itself would destroy the whole balance of the constitution and enable the present Government to either abolish the Upper House or force upon the country any other wild and reckless programme which had not been sanctioned by the electors.

STRONG PRESS COMMENT

SYDNEY, Dec. 21

Both morning papers strongly proles!, against the proposed swamping of the Legislative Council. The “Herald” says: “The position of file Governor in the matter is one of great difficulty. We are sure he has not arrived at his decision without giving the matter the consideration it deserved: but we assert with respect to i' 1 :>f-. that decision should not have boon made. We believe that it was not only an error of judgment- in itself. but it will assuredly prove the cause of grievous trouble in future. Wo can only register our protest against the, decision which has made tin's deplorable consummation of fho Government’s tactics possible, and, we believe wo are voicing the opinion of the majority of our fellow citizens."

The ‘‘-Telegraph’’ describes it as debauching the Council, and adds: “This is what the representative of the Crown is asked to become a party to the revolutionising of tho Council. for there are men who would refuse to heroine responsible for such an net even though the consequences meant resignation from the most coveted oflicial position in the world. The proper course is to compel the Government, before attempting to destroy the constitution, to get the considered mandate of the people for so doing, There are circumstances which invest: even the actions of a Governor with. a. moral responsibility, of which no official routine can relieve him.”