A Question of Pluck.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 189, 15 August 1904, Page 4

A Question of Pluck.

THE UPPER HOUSE,

When the Town Districts Bill was in commits oe in the Legislative Council 011 Wednesday, several members opposed the insertion of a new clause moved by the Hon. W. C. Smith, on the ground that it would endanger the bill in the Lower House (which, by the way, it had already done). The Hon. W. C. Smith expressed Surprise at the attitude of the friends of the bill. Was the Council to alter bills or not ? It was a peculiar position if the Council was not to alter a bill because the other House might throw it out. The Hon. Mr Carnci'oss: Is the honourable member in order in speaking in this way of the other House ?

' The Hon. Mr Smith : Well, the other House lias said so much about us that I think it is time we said a little about it. Are we to pass an amendment that we think is required without consideration of the other Chamber ? I say, j,-es, we are. Let us put our foot down, and say that we won't be dominated iby the other Chamber.;

The Hon. A. Baldey supported the clause. The Hon. C. LouissonT I don't think we should give any consideration to what may be the thought of the other place. (Hear, hear). I think it .would be a very ball policy;

and precedent to object to an amendment in any measure because it is l'ilkcly to jeopardise ijts| palss'svge i|n the other place. It is the duty of this Council to consider amendments oil their merits'. The Hon. Mr Smith : The other House has complained bitterly agiajinst this Ohianilbier, that it is not a proper revising Chamber that we don't make the amendments required but pass bills l in globo und do not do our work. If we are gioing to give way on this amendment, the sooner we are abolished thq better. That is all I have to say. I have no wish to 'be iin tho Chamber unless wc are going to pass whatever amendments wo like, irrespective of what the other House thinks, or says, or does. Tho clause was rejected by 21 votes to 11,-

Speaking at a later stage on the same .bill, the Hon. D. Pinkorton said he hoped the Council would not consider -the House at all. The other House was not known to the Council.

The Hon. F. Trask : We should ignore the other place entirely. I hope for the future members will be more guarded in making statements in reference to another place than they have been tliia afternoon. It's better to treat the critics with contempt., and they will coine round to our way of thinking. The Hon. F. Arkwright regretted tihat the Council, as a common-sense body, had said so much.

Hon. W. C. F. Carncross said ho was as fully prepared as any member of the Council— and his voting showed it—to pass any amendment the Council thought fit. Nevertheless he thought it Wild he unin th <> present case to press it. The amendment was rejected bv 19 votes to 12.—New Zealand Timcsl