LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10705, 28 August 1912, Page 4

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM

THE BILL FURTHER DISCUSSED.

(By T&AQiupii — rreas Amoctation.J

WELLINGTON, Last Night. In the Legislative Council this after-, noon, the Hon W. W. McCardlc resumed tho debate on the Legislative Council Elections Bill. Ho considered the Government had a right to introduce any measure they considered to be for the good of the country. He,. however, took exception to tho proposed electorates, as it would throw tho elections into the hands of men who were able to have organisationsover the electorates. Where, he asked, would the country districts be under the system ? Ho reminded the leader of Vlio CoimcH that great interests were centred in the country, and candidates from the country would be unknown generally. Hetrusted that tho Council would scothat we have some other system if election than the one proposed. Ho pointed out that it would take a great amount of capital for a country candidate to make his views known throughout the electorate. Nearly every city would have moro than its fair quota of members in the Council, and farmers would not. bo adequately represented. He suggested' the appointment of a Committee .to go into the whole question. He was' prepared to vote for the second reading, and would do his best to secure a reasonable system of representation.

The Hon Mr- Anstey said he would prefer to see the Council abolished than reformed in the terms of tho present Bill. Such a reform would' bo an abortion. There was no particular failing on the part of the Council that demanded reform. All' the authorities quoted had advocated' election on a limited franchise, or by some secondary means. Ho contended that proportional representation in other countries had resulted only in the representation of factions, and not of tho people as a whole. The Bill before them would never give an ideal Council, which shcldrenresent every main interest and locality in the Dominion. Large electorates would disfranchise country districts. If he voted for jjthe second' reading it would be only for tho purpose of affording fuller d^cussion.

The Hon Mr Bnillio so id lie woxilrl vote for the Bill, as containing somo recommendation for a whWt was. he believed, tho desire of tho* "Dominion. He suecrest-od that tho House of ■should .act as,an Elective College, and the Government should have the risrlit to nomin.itea certain number of members.

The Hon'Mr Callan'said that unlesssome such change as proposed wereeffected, the Council, would, he believed, be abolished. If election were adopted, a necessary branch of the Legislature would survive.- Ho would' support the second reading. He was not wedded to two electorates, but he held thnt'thev should . not bo small. The Hon" Mr Luke said this question of reform of the Council had .been:up for settlement to his knowledge' for forty years. There would be no ■satisfactory solution until tho, Lower House wap elected on the basis of proportional representation. The Council adjourned.