THE NEW SOUTH WALES UPPER HOUSE.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 January 1926, Page 3

THE NEW SOUTH WALES UPPER HOUSE.

HEATED DEBATES

AN JNDfGNATION CAMPAIGN

1)Y TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSN., COPYRIGHT. .SYDNEY. January 21. Besides heated debates in the two Houses over the abolition of the Legislative Council, a fierce controversy is proceeding in the press, chiefly on condemnatory side. Widespread indignation is expressed towards the members accepting the gold life passes for the sole purpose of destroying the Council. This is freely described as bribery. An indignation campaign is la?ing organised and arrangements arc being made to hold a series of meetings throughout the city and suburbs, at. which Mr Bavin. leader of the Opposition and other prominent opponents of Mr Lang’s methods will deliver addresses.

f„ the Assembly. Mr MeTiermaii, in moving the second reading of the bill granting the gold passes to members of the Council, indignantly denied the alleged bribery, He said it was impossible to make any differentiation between the old and new memhersi in the granting of passes and he appealed to the Opposition to cease making insulting charges, which were baseless. The charge of bribery was malicious and malignant propaganda. Mr Bavin declared that in the past passes has been granted to members to enable them, perform their legislative duties, but now the Government proposed to grant passes to people who have no duties to perform. Mr Bavin said much opposition to the proposal would have been removed if the Government had first abolished the Council and then asked the House to make some recognition of the services of the members affected.

The leader of the Country Party alsr strongly attacked the Government's action over the Council. After a number of other condemnatory speeches had been delivered the closure was applied and the bill was read a second time by <l4 to <3B. WHAT MR LANG STANDS FOR. (Received this day at 12 noon). SYDNEY, January 22. Mr Lang, replying to a deputation ol representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Manufacturers and Employers’ Federation, said tin abolition of the Legislative Council had been a plank in the Labour platform since the party came into existence. If at the next election the people showed their disapproval of flic Governments’ action, the next administration would be quite able to establish a revising Chamber. Mr I ,ang said the abolition of tin Upper House would be a step towards the policy of decentralization for which he stood. 'l'he Premier added: “The sooner Provincial Councils replace State Parliaments the better,” and concluded : “ If the Council does not go to-day it must go next week or as soon as possible.” DISCUSSION IN ASSEMBLY. SYDNE), nan. In the Legislative Council during tbo debate on the Abolition, of the Council Bill. Doctor Wall, Robson and Sir J. Carrulhers asked Mr Willis if I lie Bill would actually include the initiative, referendum and recall. Mr Willis said that he had no doubt i lint machinery to make the proposal effective would be provided before Ibe Bill was assented to. Doctor Wall voted with the Government on the motion to introduce the Bill, but intimated be would not vote for the Government on this occasion unless the proposal to establish the initiative, referendum and recall was included in the Bill.

The point previously raised by Sir ./. Carruthers was that the Bill was out of order, because if was at variance with die section ol the ('onslit.ulion Act which conlcrred the charter of self Government on the people of tho State, which declares, in tend in,, that the legislature may,enact or alter laws in force concerning the Council. He contended the word alter restricted the power to alteration and not to substitution. He quoted dictionaries to show that "alter” meant to make a change in something without changing that something to something else. Sir Joseph said the clause further limited any alteration of tho constitution of the Upper Chamber to nominations or election.

ROMAN CATHOLIC VIEW. SYDNEY, Jan. 22 Among other controversial points raised in connection with the abolition of the Legislative Council, was how tar the Labour platform pledge in favour of abolition bound the Roman Catholic members of the Upper House. Archbishop Kelly, in a signed «» iimnieation to the press, says lie hail been asked to express an opinion on abolition and acids; “We say that il the law is the dictate of reason, spoken bv authority for the common good, we must regard the second chaiiihei as indispensible for tlie proper enactment of law. Our experience to date confirms this. An attempt to amputate an arm of the constitution is not warranted hv special mandates ol Unpeople and is an unjustifiable bte.uh of trust. We speak independently of all parties.” DISORD HR L Y SCENES. SYDNEY. Jan. 21. The Assembly after scenes of disorder. during which one member was removed by the Sergeant-at-Arms, carried the second reading of the (-old l’ass Bill-