THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 49, 26 February 1912, Page 7

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

IS THERE NEED FOR REFORM! VETERAN POLITICIAN'S VIEWS. (By Telegraph.— Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. In view of possible political changes as bearing upon the future personnel of the Legislative Council your representative sought an expression of opinion on the subject from the Hon. Mr. C. F. Carncross (Chairman of Committees in the Upper House). He is an old member of the Liberal party, and has always l»een looked upon as a man who holds sensible moderate views. •'lt is not infrequently asserted that the Council is entirely under the control of the Government, and Acts just in accordance with the wishes of the Prime Minister. ''This statement is frequently made," said Mr. Carncross, "but it is not a true one. I have never known one instance of Sir Joseph Ward ever speaking to a Councillor for the purpose of influencing legislation, but 1 have known many instances of the Council insisting upon important amendments, and carrying them through in conference in spite of Government opposition. The principal measures of the Government have in the main been an extension of Liberal principles, which, however, bitterly they mayhave been contested in the past, are now accepted by both sides of the House. Why should the Council reject measures which are so emphatically accepted by the people's representatives in another place?

j On the subject of the proposal to I alter the constitution of the Legislative i Council Mr. Carncross said, "1 would j rather than see the Council abolished j than made elective. I cannot see the ad- ' vantages of two elective Houses. lam I trust not, speaking with bias, but I j had 12 years' experience in the Lower ! House, and thero is nothing in political life that I am more convinced of than this—that there should be one House free from the pressure of constituents. What that pressure is only those who have had experience, can tell; but it is a pressure that compels men to occasionally —I shall not say frequently—vote in a direction that they know is not in the best interests of the Dominion. The time may not be now, but there may be a time, only a little ahead, when the people will see safety in a chamber that is free from the pressure, of constituents. The Council, I admit, certainly does not appear to be popular in the country just now. One of the reasons for that, strangely enough, is that it does not live in the "limelight. The newspaper reports of its proceedings are of the briefest description. It has given advanced Labour legislation, and has done much good, but the general public knew nothing of it. It cannot be gainsaid that there is a prejudice against the Council, but at the same time I think it not altogether justified. Reading the speeches of those candidates, who have dealt with the Legislative Council, it appears to me that they have beee been mainly influenced by the question of the personnel of tho Council. On that aspect of the question, I can say nothing, but to judge the Conncil fairly it 3 work shouldr be taken into consideration, and if it is calmly and conscientiously judged from that point of view, think it will be that many of ita critics have been somewhat harsh, thoughtless in their utterance.