LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10702, 24 August 1912, Page 5

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM

THE BILL DISCUSSED

(By Telegragfo—Fr&ta Aurtia»yor.')

WELLINGTON, Last Night

In the Legislative Council t*his afternoon the Hon J. T. Paul continued the debate on the Legislative Council Elections Bill. He spoke from the outsat agairtit the nominative system, which be said had necessarily bean adopted in the early development of the country, but had beem unpopular from its inception. He quoted a remark of Sir George Grey, in which he had said, "A nominated Upper House did away with the glorious fabric he •framed." * The nominee system mad< the" whole Chamber .distasteful to the people, however well qualified in other respects the nominated members might be. He believed the Government was sincere in its attempt to reform the Council. The ide.r of having two single electorates was the most Radical, that had ever been bo for the Chamber. The Bill wouV result im the Council being composed in exact proportions of the considerable schools of thought cf the country. The Hon. Mr Samuel's speedproved that he was not even the beginning of a democrat. Ho pointc. 1 out tint ths modified Hare system <~t proportional reDressntation. introduce' into Tasmania satisfied Labour anil all other parties. Legislator.; existed.t" discharge the duties.of the public, and his main, argument was that no mem-. ber of Parliament ought to exist unless authorised by the voice cf the people. If the present proposals were carried, they at least would be in .'■> better position to secure an ideal Legislative svr.i'em. His opinion was 1 that one Chamber should suffice. It was hard enough to get reforms through one Chamber, lei alorx> two If this measure was adopted, nnd the Council made truly representative of the people, the system would be forced upon the other Chamber. He advocated the higher payment of members of the Council, if elected.

The Hon. Sir William Steward contended that our representative institutions failed to correctly represent the opinions of the' people, and the proportional method of representation. was desirable, but it was with the other Chamber the reform should begin. If the Bill passed in its present form, then the Council should be the dominant body, beeaiise its representation would be more perfect. The relations of the two bodies would then have-to b e recogrnised, especially in relation to finance.

The Hon. M. Juouisson paid the Bill was certainly worthy of better treatment than was proposed by the amendment. They should acknowledge that there was -a- sfirong public feeling that the nominative system should give way to the elective system, and they should yield to it. He, however, disagreed with the proposed machinery to give effect to the change. The electorates were unworkable, and only ticket or wealthy men would have a chance. He preferred forty single electorate.". The Bill was crude and inapplicable; but a better method could be introduced.