General Assembly.

Waikato Times, Volume XIII, Issue 1154, 18 November 1879, Page 2

General Assembly.

HOUSE OF REPRE3EFTA. TIVES.

Thursday. • •. elective councillors. Sir George Grey moved the second reading of the Elective Council Bill. He said as things at present stood, they put into Council men representing large monetary interests which influenced legislation m a variety of ways. They were placed m a position to make Ministries calculated to subvert the public policy. As things stood there was no redress for the wrongs a nominated body® may inflict. They might continue all their Mf e^and let them do what they might they could not be removed. They came back year after year to repeat the wrongs they had already inflicted, and there was no redress* The practice followed here was v that wheu certain individuals lost their seat m this they had got one m the other Chamber. They were able to create great interests which it would take years to destroy. He believed the whole colony felt ifc was monstrous that a number of gentlemen, having no special fitness or claims should have such powers conferred upon them for life, and that the general desire was that the Chamber should be thrown open to her Majesty's subjeots as a whoie. He had thought over the matter, and to his mind an elective Chamber was the only solution of the difficulty. What he proposed was, that both islands should be looked upon as great elective districts. He proposed the Council should consist of 27 members. That was based on the members provided for by neighboring colonies ; that was, 12 Europeans for each island, and two natives for the North and one for the Middle Island. It would be impossible for any man to be elected who did not hold a high position m the estimation of his fellow-men. The House of Representatives would represent local interests, while the Upper House would represent the land interest. The Upper House would be a groat power m the country. By that means the Legislature m accordanco with the voices of the people would be secured. Mr Rolleston said there was no demand | on the part of the country for a change of this kind. Had any such change been recuiired, they would have been sure to have heard something about it. He showed that a constant change had taken place m the argument that members legislated for life. He disputed the theory that the colony desired to see this Chamber abolished. But for the actiun of the Council the public works policy of New Zealand on more than one occasion would have been a Berious failure. In- that respect they had fulfilled the important ; function of checking hasty legislation. The proposal was, m his opinion, a step I m the direction, of separation of the j islands, and therefore he hoped it would j be discouraged. ! Mr DeLautour spoke m support of the j motion. j Mr Thomson moved the adjournment of 1 the debate.