ELECTIVE COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 81, 22 August 1912, Page 5

ELECTIVE COUNCIL.

BILL BEFORE THE CHAMBER. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. I lie Council met at 2.30. Mr. Bell, Minister of Internal Affairs, moved the second reading of the Legisliitive Council Elections Bill. He said that, the proposed change was from a selected to an elected Second Chamber, responsible to the direct vote of the people at the polls. ]f the principle of the change was approved, all else waß the definition of the method by which the change should be effected, and on that high level he hoped the debate would be conducted. The details of the ml were a proper subject for debate, but not as a factor of the vote of any' member on the second reading. It was on the principle of election against nomination, and not on the method, that the Government, at this stage sought the vote of the Council. The' Minister then proceeded to give a summary of the to vary the Constitution, an explanation of the principles and details of the measure, and the reasons which had led the Government to introduce the Bill. Incidentally, he declared that the change made in 1801 from life tenine to se\ en years was, in essence, unsound, and he pointed out that so far back as 1883 the Whitaker-Atkinson Government declared that "public opinion was fast coming to the conclusion that an ielective should he substituted for a nominative chamber." Since 1891 the question of Council reform had been constantly debated in the country, and in both branches of the Legislature constantly throughout the past twenv-one years. The party now lied by Mr.'Massey had been in favor of an elective Council, and the last election the change was advocated by men of all parties. The present state of affairs was wholly improper and anomalous. It did not create a chamber independent of the Government that appointed it, nor did it create a revising chamber, except in detail. Certain matters had designedly omitted from the Bill, to be dealt- with at a later stage. One was Maori representation, and another was the method to be pursued in connection .with disputes 'between the two branches of the Legislature. As it ivas impossible to have scrutineers at 3000 booths it was proposed that the. Governor should appoint, on thic nomination of the Council, four scrutineers, two to act for each Island, on behalf of all the candidates. The ordinary term of tenure of the Council would be six years. If the House required to go to the country in the interval then half the Council would also go to the country. This offered a big opportunity for "introducing new blood. The ideal of proportional representation was a body representing all sections of the community. That "was the proportional representation they sought. He was prepared to accept reasonable amendments, and even complete alteration in some sections, but tTie Government would not accept any method of secondary election. It was their desire to administer, for' the 'benefit of the country in general, not for the benefit of party. They would either pass the measure or be defeated at the polls. What he proposed was for the dignity of the Council as well as in the interests of the country as a whole. Mr. George moved the ad journment of the debate, and the Council rose.