PARLIAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 129, 18 October 1912, Page 8

PARLIAMENT.

THURSDAY, (K"PI 13Ell 17. 1!I12. LEG ISI AT I'V E COUNCIL. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. The Legislative Council met at 2.30. The llauraki Plains Amendment Bill lassed. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BILL. Mr. Bell moved the second reading of he Legislative Council Bill, limiting apjointments to the Council to three years. Te said that the Council and the House lad both agreed that a change should ;ake place from nomination to election. Phe method itself was immaterial, and Die majority in the House for the 'hange had lieen decisive. Was it not, therefore, he asked, the duty of the Council, equally with the Government md the House,' to prepare for the position which would arise? In 1914 sixteen members of the Council would have their terms ended, leaving only fifteen members appointed for seven years and seven life members. It would be necessary to provide that in the last session of Parliament there should be a chamber capable of discharging its duties, and this Bill was to prepare for the position that would arise. There was nothing behind the measure: no hidden intention. Mr. Wigram agreed that it was ineum ! bent upon the Council to prepare for the position arising in the future. He indicated that he would move in committee to strike out the words limiting the appointment to three years, and so leave it to be understood that, if the elective Bill were not passed, they should be- reappointed, and if it did pass they would have a good chance of election .by the people, lie would also move that j this Act continue until the expiry of the term of the present Parliament, when it shall be deemed to be repealed. Messrs. Carncross and Loughnan said thev would vote against the Bill. Mr. Paul objected to the three years' tenure. He would vote for the Bill, but there should be some way of making- it expire automatically when the elective system was adopted. ' Mr. Samuel upheld the nominee system. How could they vote for the present Bill when they had shelved tli,e for'mer Bill on the subject, because.' they considered that legislation should be delayed for a year, to permit the public to be consulted? The debate- was adjourned, and the Council then rose. In the evening the Council passed all the stages of a number of local Bills sent forward from the House and then adjourned.