Parliament

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 52, 22 July 1914, Page 5

Parliament

TUESDAY, .JULY 21. legislative council. AFTEKXOOX SESSION. REFORM of the upper house. By Tclcgniph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Xight. I he Council met at 2.30 p.m. Hon. H. D. Bell moved the second reading of the Legislative Council Bill. The Government, he said, had gone to the people at last election with a proposal for the election of thp Council by a vote of the people. A change in the constitution of the Council had been suggested. Since its foundation only one .change had taken place, viz., in 18:11. Seven-year appointments were necessarily allied to political parties, and opportunities for re-appointments also relied upon alliance with political parties. Since 1891 there had beern an unceasing desire for a change in the constitution. The only difference was as to the form which the change should take. If a change to election were made, the Council would g-epresent the people. An elective Council could not lie over-ridden, except by the electors. Except in one detail, the Bill was the same as the one of .1012. The postponing of the operfftion of the Bill was owing to the corning general elections, as if a new Government were appointed it would not be able to pass amending legislation owing to appointments made by the present Government. He out- ■ lined the voting which took place in the Council last year. There was no majority in the Council at any time in favor of nomination, and a strong minority had always favored election by the people. Tt was not essential that party should foe represented in the Council. Councillors should be known as men whose long connection with public affairs warranted confidence. Thev should be men outside the range of the "parish pump." The proportional vote ■would tend to give each party fair representation, according to its strength. Hon. George said the leader of the Council had made up his mind that the Bill should go through, and "specials", had toeen assembled to force the Bill through. Therefore he thought they should should see that the best possible Council was elected. He would not vote for an elective Council upon 4he same franchise as the Lower House, as it only EMnt a duplication of the chambers. The debate was adjourned till 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, and the House rose ■at 4.48 p.m.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. AFTERNOON SESSION. The House met at 2.30 p.m. THE STRIKE LEADERS. A petition circulated by the Federation of Labor, praying for the release of those committed to prison in connection with the recent strike, was presented by Mr. McCombs. The petition contained 9278 signatures. THE MOTOR'BILL. In reply to Mr. Davey, the 'Minister of Justice stated that lie would be pleased to consider iiuy objections to the Motor Bill before the second reading of the Bill was taken.

LOANS AND FINANCE. Mr. Allen laid on the table the return made to the order of Sir Joseph "Ward showing the amounts raised in London, other than by way, of loan. The Leader of the Opposition at once started a criticism of the Government's methods of raising loans, contending they were following methods not regarded favorably in London. 'Mr. Allen said Sir .Toseph Ward had got all he asked for in the return. Now tlmt he had got it he wanted something else. lie regretted that the Opposition was. trying to make party capital out of the country's finance. This he strongly deprecated, becauso it was highly detrimental to the public credit. He defended the method of raising money in London, which was in the interest of economy. ■ The mest complete answer to their opponents' criticism was that their 'ast loan was subscribed fivefold by the British public. The finances of the Dominion were thoroughly sound, and in proof thereof he quoted that a loan of £30,000 had been raised in February last at the remarkable rate of £3 ifls lOd. KAURI GUM RESERVES. The remainder of the sitting was taken up with a discussion on the report of the Kauri Gum Reserves Commission, which was laid on the taHile and ordered to be printed.