The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1919. THE UPPER HOUSE QUIBBLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 October 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1919. THE UPPER HOUSE QUIBBLE.

The action of the Legislative Council in refusing to allow the House of Representatives to alter the constitution of the Council by making women eligible for a seat therein may be very Characteristic of the antiquated nature of the Council, but it is diametrically opposed to the principle of democracy which is the dominant spirit of the Dominion. If this exalted Chamber had, as it was entitled to if it thought fit, thrown out the Bill, the position would have been perfectly intelligible as well as constitutional. Instead of this, the Council took offence at the interference by the House in, regard to personnel, and, under the plea of privilege, mutilated the Bill by deleting the clauses referring to the admission of women to a seat in the Council. Sir John Pindlay's remarks on the antiquated, fantastic question of privilege were very appropriate, and he demonstrated convincingly that to insist on privilege, when it conflicted with the rights of the people, was absurd. The Bill is admittedly a reflex of popular opinion in the country, and M.L.C.s have made themselves supremely ridiculous by bringing their touchiness into the scale against public opinion. It would almost seem as if they feared that the introduction of women into the Upper Chamber would emphasise more than ever the limited vision of the present "Honorables", and that they might even be galvanised into keeping pace with the progress of the country. Probably the view taken by Mr. Wilford will be generally accepted. He wanted to see such instances of frustrating the will of the people multiplied until the people dealt with the Upper House. It would seem that when privilege can be abused in such a flagrant manner it deserved to be relegated to obscurity. The crux of the situation is to be found in the fact that a non-elective Chamber is endeavoring to clip the wings of the elective Chamber, and it is manifest that such action cannot be tolerated. The Council has its uses in a limited way, but it is obviously out of touch with the people, and the essence of government in New Zealand is that it shall be by the people for the people. Mr. Isitt aptly expressed the general feeling of the community when he said that he hoped members of the House would present a determined front to such an inexcusable infringement of the rights of the people. Fortunately, the Premier is equally insistent, so that it looks as if the J5»589&,..i83Jl &&K& !&...#£.&§ its .

[guns. If the House had, as it should have done years ago, reformed the Council, it may be taken for granted the absurd privilege incident would not have •arisen. One of the first duties of the new Parliament should be to take this reformation in hand, for ■it is sadly needed.