"IT IS RUBBISH!".

Taranaki Daily News, 7 December 1918, Page 4

"IT IS RUBBISH!".

ELIGIBILITY OF WOMEN MEMBERS OF .PARLIAMENT. LEGISLATIVE COUXCIL ON ITS DIGNITY. By Telegraph,—Parliamentary Reporter, Wellington, Lost Night.

The amendment made in the Legislative Council Bill last night, on the motion of Mr. McCombs (Lyttclto*), giving women the right to sit in I'arlia. ment, was before members again to-day The amendment, which appeared at the time to have been carried on a snap division, was supported by only one Minister (the Hon, T. M. Wilford). while nine Ministers, including both Mr. Masscy and Sir Joseph Ward, Voted against it. The Bill, it should be understood, originated in the Legislative Council, was passed there, and then sent to the House. The Bill, as amended, was returned to the Qouncil this morning, and Sir Dillon Bell moved that the Bunnell should disagree, with, the amendment.

"Why!'' asked a councillor. '•Because it's rubbish!" explained th' leader of the Council. There, was littl' discission on the point, and then the .Council decided by 27 to 3 to disagree! with the amendment. . The min i.'ity consisted of Sir William Hall-Jor.es, th» Hon. Garland:.a!>d,Hon. Paul. This resolution went back to the House in the usual way. the reason formally assigned by the Council foi disagreement'being: that -tlie matte) should have been dealt with in separate legislation, ■ti'nioh could have -bewn nil!.' considered nV'the Council. - i

Mr. Massey moved at onc<? that '.n? House 'should ohi--its,.-n.«-te»dnic*t«-ami indicated that lift would >ili->vi'i]s.b> to net up managers to'-ineet the. repi* : sefitatives of the Coimdil: 'i 'cj. ■ ■■•:'_■ When the matter was mentioned avalin the Council during the afternoon. Sit billon Bell asked the enormous importance of dealing wit) such matters by considered. Jeaislatiop "Tt is not a mere technicality," he saw; "it is a matter of Very-gi;ej|is-.-ami. grf; eat. Constitutional importance. I wau' the Council to put its foot down on -this method by which the Council i 'presented from-'duly-considering a mcas. me of great importance by reason ot 'inclusion in a Bill already' passed of a new 'and'distinct subject,, a matter 01 vast national importance, Hon. Paul:. Why don't you practise what vou preach? Sir Dillon Bell: If the hon. gentleman practised what he preaches I am afraid he would be led into petty larceny on a la ge scale, but of the public nature I do feel that this is a ,very..senotis mfrroaement of the methods of Parliament. It is the very nature of a second chamber to ensure that constitutional changes shall be made after due. deliberation and by constitutional means. Who pretends that this is a constitutional means of carrying out •this great change?