The Legislative Council.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16205, 7 May 1918, Page 6

The Legislative Council.

Tho Legislative Council, which in normal times consisted of from 40 to 4-4 * members, has during the last few years been allowed to run down to far below its normal strength. Last session the roll had dwindled to 20, of whom only about 14 or 15 were in attendance. Obviously it was necessary io strengthen the Council very considerably if it were to continue to hold its [ proper place a3 a Second Chamber and discharge its duties effectively. This has now been done by the nomination ' of 19 new members, whose names appear in another column. In reference ! to tho Canterbury names we may perhaps be allowed to express our satisfaction at the rotum of Mr "Wigram to the Council. He is not onlv an able man of affairs ■who has done valuable work for tho city, of which ho was at one time Mayor, but more recently by tho ■ promotion of tho Aviation School fit Sockburn he has rendered an important service to the Dominion and. the Empire. Mr Louisson is another ex-Mayor of Christchurch . who has done good service for the city. Tho West Coast ha; two doughty representatives in Mr J. Grimmond and Mr Michel, (vho, "on opposite sides of politics, have taKen a very prominent part in the political affairs of the Coast. Among the former members of the Council whose return will be welcomed may bo mentioned Mr George Jones, whose genial qualities and skill as a musician endeared him to his fellow-legislators, first in the House of Representatives and afterwards in the Council. The experience of Sir John Sinclair as a member of the Dominions' Royal Commission should render his counsel especially valuablo when Imperial affairs arc under discussion. A former memI ber of the House of. Representatives who will be a distinct acquisition to tho Council is Mr G. M. Thomson, whose interest in forestry, acclimatisation, and scientific investigation of all kinds is well-known. Two now Maori members have been called to the Council. Every list of this kind, is open to criticism, and doubtless this unusually long roll of /'calls" will not escape. Tho country, however, will be unfeignedlv glad to find that the difficulties in the way of bringing up the Council to its full strength.have been overcome. If. we are to have a Second Chamber at all in this country, care must be taken to maintain its dignity and to keep up its working strength