THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11, 13 September 1913, Page 5

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

ITS CONSTITUTION AND POWERS

'. vPeu Press Association-! ( , .' , , Wellington, September 12

The, special ComiPjittpe set .up U - consider i how i the constitution of tin “Legislative Council- should be changea brought down its report this afternoon. The report is voluminous, but the crus is contained in a resolution, carried by five votes to four: “That it is ex pedient that the number, of Europear councillors be. limited to the presen number (40), and that all vacancie; as; they occur be filled by election bj members of the Council and ot tlr blouse of Representatives by ballot; (2) that in the opinion of the Committee, the coming into operation c the Act, if passedj should be deferret until after next general election,” Th Committee recommended that the Bil now before the Council he amended so, as to bring it into conformity wit-1 ■ the Bill in the appendix to the report This Bill provides that any person eligible for election to the House m-r be elected to the Council, saving r member sitting in the House. Candidates must be nominated by twe members of either House. The vote shall close within 14 days after tin nominations close-. In case of a’ equality of votes the clerk will -determine the result by lot. Provision u made that the Councillor who retires on October 16 shall continue in office until Depember 22 next. Of 12 win retire on January 22, 1914, three shall retire on that day, three shall continue in office nnC! February 22 and 'then retire, three shall continue in office until March 22 and then retire, and the remainder shall continue in office until the 22nd day of April and retire. The order in which the retirements shall take place is to be determined by lot. The term of toe election is to bo seven years. r I wo Maori members dre to be nominated. The provisions of the Bill are not t' apply‘to them. A member of the'Executive Council may be summoned L the Council at any time. The relations of the two Houses on the subject of money Bills are defined in part n. of the Bill. The Council cannot originate loans appropriating revenue or moneys or imposing taxation. The Council may not amend money Bill?, but may return them to the House for amendment. If a money Bill rsent up to the Council one week before the' end of the session and not passed by the Council within one week, the Bill shall, unless the House directs to the contrary, become an Act of Parliament on the Governor giving his assent.

The Council then adjourned until Wednesday.