LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8158, 17 July 1906, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

IMPORTANT SPEECH BY THE PEEMIEE. FAVOES ELECTION BY LOWER HOUSE. PARLIAMENT TO DEAL WITH THE QUESTION. PEI! PBESB ASSOCIATION. Wellington, July 16.

Tho Premier, Mr Hall-Jones, was preaeut at a meeting of the Shipmaster' Association to-day, called for the purpose of presenting Hie Association's gold badge to Mr Frank Bullen, the well-known author and lecturer. Mr Hall-Jones, in reply to a toast, made a speeoh haying several important points. He said he had been called upon to, for a time, succeed Mr Seddon, and matters would go on as nearly as possible on the lines laid down by the late Premier, There had been an increase in revenue for the June quarter of £118,064, made up principally as follows —Eailways £56,138, Customs £19,614, Land Tax £1,358, lucomo Tax £2,012, beer duty £783. Finances wore sound, the country was prosperous, and Ministers were going to do all they could to keep it so. It would be necessary for New Zealand to enter the field with Australia in seoking trade for produce in the East_ Within the last few weeks, certain members of the Legislative Council had retired through their term of office having expired. For some time there had been a controversy with regard to the constitution of the Upper Chamber, whether it should be mended or ended. His own view was that in connection with the Upper House, there should be at least an Advisory Committee, consisting of anything from twelve to twenty members, without power of initiative. He recognised, however, that the Colony was not quite prepared for that, but he did think the time had arriyed to consider what should be done lo mend the Legislative Council. I When he first entered Parliament one I plank of his platform was that the Legislative Council should be elected by the House of Representatives, and after giving it considerable thought and comparing the proposal that the Council should be elected by electorates, he was still of opinion that the best way was to have election by the Lower House. It had not been considered advisable to make re-appoint-ments to the Council, and the House should be afforded an opportunity to consider the mattor before a»y further appointments were made.