Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 1950. UPPER HOUSE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 211, 22 June 1950, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit THURSDAY, JUNE 22, 1950. UPPER HOUSE

If Government members and a majority of the Labour Opposition run true to form, then the announcement by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. S. G. Holland, that the Legislative Council will be abolished by the end of the coming session of Parliament, should come true. The subject has been hotly debated on more than one occasion, but every move made to abolish the Upper House has been defeated. The first move was made three years ago by Mr Holland, but he failed to win through after a very hectic debate. He then moved to reduce the Upper House vote by £l, but this also was defeated. As matters stand at the moment there are 25 members in the Upper House; 17 representing the Labour Party, 7 representing the National Party, and 1 Independent. It can thus be seen that the Government has no chance of getting any legislation through unless some action i$ taken. To meet the situation it is likely that Mi Holland will make sufficient appointments to ensure the passage of all legislation up to the time he presents the Bill which will provide for the abolition of the Council. v So keen are some people to see the change come about that they have offered their services without remuneration until the proposed legislation goes through.' For a long time some members of Labour Paity have not been satisfied with the matiner in which the Council has performed its functions, and they sought a change. The party as a whole did not act, however, and now Labour members, if they aie consistent, should support the Bill when it comes down. It is both desirable and necessary that t-hei e should be som’e body with sufficient' power to guard against unwise procedures, and Mr Holland recognises this when he says that an acceptable alternative has to be found. If this alternative is forthcoming by the. time the Bill reaches the House, then the measure should have an easy passage. New Zealand’s first ‘Legislative Council sat in Auckland in May, 1854. It was summoned under the Imperial Act, and of the 16 members, 14 appeared. By 1886 the House had no fewer than 53 members, and this figure was not afterwards eclipsed. Appointments were made by the King up to 1868, but Imperial legislation of that year bestowed the power of appointment on the Governor. Up to 1891 appointments were for life, but in that year the present seven-year term came into existence. It is perhaps not generally known, that there is provision in the Legislative Council. Act of 1914 for an elective council, but this has never been put into operation.