ELECTIVE UPPER HOUSE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2187, 9 October 1920, Page 3

ELECTIVE UPPER HOUSE.

\ MENDING BILL BEFORE PARLIA- . ■ MENT. • PASSES SECOND READING. (Per Press Association.) - WELLINGTON. .October 7. _ In the IJauso of If (.•pi'ctunuuiycs this ■.• veiling, die Piiinc Minister moved the ■ ecoinl reading of the Legislative Council Amendment Bill. Air Massey explained the reason why the Act had not been brought into opera.l ion. Now it, was tinder-,-toott that many members desired an amendment of die Act on the Statute Book, and as there was not time to consider these this session, the Government, thought it advisable to further postpone the operation of the Act. The. only import ant nmeudm in proposed related to the boundaries? mid the number of members in the electorates! for the Upper House. Mr Wiiford said that there had been much discussion on the question whether another Chamber was necessary or not. Me thought that if the opportunity was given this Chamber to discuss, the. matter it would be found that there would be a plain statement of views oi*t the point. Ho, personally was prepared to vote for a bill toy the election ot the Lower House, on the system of proportional represent'd ion. but he was not prepared at present to say what shape the reform of the Upper House should take. Ho hoped the matter would bo dealt with definitely and finally next session.

Mr Ha-nan said that ho could see no justification for holding over the- operation of the present Act providing for an elective Upper House. Mr Parry thought, that the time had arrived when thi' membership of ihc Upper House should he free of the suspicion that the appointments were made for services to a parlicnlar party. Labour’s desire was to see a truly democratic form of Parliament ivpresenting all sections of (he people according to (heir .strength. The Upper House, if continued, should be elected by proportional reprcseiitalion, but his idea was that it. should be wiped out.

Mr Isitt congratulated the Government on (ho proposal to posipono (.lie Council Amendment Acl® and he -hoped it. would continue to he postponed indefinitely. An elective Upper House would result in the duplication of the Lower House, and ihns its usefulness as a revising Chamber would be lost in party bias. Under the present system, members of the other place were free from thy disturbing influences of election possibilities and parly passion. Proportional representation would be unworkable in country districts. Mr McCombs combated the .statement that proportional representation would ho unworkable in the country, pointing out that in Australia the system was worked with whole States as electorates for the Senate.

Mr Savage said that it was wrong to continue pulling the Council reform oft as (he people would become suspicious of Barlianmnlary methods. Means should be provided for' the people lo_ express themselves clearly and conhilulionaliy on (he mailer of die personnel of Parliament. M> - Holland opposed (ho Bill as being a breach of faith with the .people. Mr Jones quoted Ihe New South W a! -s iejv;"t on (he recent .oleelion. shoving that less than half die number of ■ ha (or- on the roll east valid voles, go that not, only was the Government a minority body, hat tlie whole election only reflected the opinion of a, minority of the people. air Sullivan snpporied a I .eglslaliye (,'oiintil elected on the basis of proportional reprcsenlalioii. The question I hat lie* Bill he read a seeond time was Him pul, and on a division l)m molioii was agreed lo by 36 voles to 16.

The House (hen went into ( 'ommitlea on (he Bill.

Gliinso 3. pcsiponing Ihe dale of the coming in!o operation nl Ih ■ Bill, was challenged by (ho Labour Rally, and on a division was agreed io by 36 voles lo 16. The Bill was then reporlcd from l.'nmmil ten without amondim nt, and read a third lime and passed, Ihe ] louse rising ul 11.20 p.m. The following is Ihe division list on the second reading For.—Messrs Abnorc, Bitcli ner, Bollard, Coates. J. S. Dickson, field. Glenn. Gnlhne, A. TFamilt.m, J. R. 11,million, Harris, Hawkeii. Sir Win. Herrins. Messrs Hockley. Hudson. [renter. Dill, .Tone.' - , Lee. Luke, McLeod, McNicol, i\ hinder, Massey, 'Masters, Nash, Nos worthy Barr, Boinare. Boiler, Bowdrdl. Reed. T. W. Rhodes, Svl, s, Wilford and Wright, (56). ‘ Against.—Messrs Bari ram, Eihc, !■ raser. Holland, Horn. Howard. Kellett, Mefoinhs. Mitchell. Barry. Boland. Savage. Side'., Siatham. Sullivan, Willv (16).