FUTURE OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 30, 29 October 1932, Page 10

FUTURE OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Two references to the future of the Legislative Council were published yesterday. No doubt the fact that the Upper Chamber has fallen so much below normal strength and must soon be the subject of some action accounts for this attention. The president of the Associated Chambers of Commerce said there was a strong hint that appointments would be made on a new principle whose basis would be future rather than past service. Speaking in the House of Representatives Mr. Endean thought the Council should not be regarded as a refuge for ex-members in their old age. Appointments should be made from citizens of middle-age representative of all walks of life. The two viewpoints do not conflict and combined would provide a fair general prescription for selecting members of the Council. The latter would be greatly strengthened if it could be claimed to be representative of all classes and sections of the community. Its status would be further raised if its members were appointed on account of fitness to serve, rather than on the score of past service. At any rate it is clear that if the two-Chamber system is to be preserved (as is desirable and indeed essential on many grounds), its personnel must be such as to command respect and consideration when it feels called upon to intervene. The issues are so important that the Government would do well to give the matter the thought due on a question of high policy involving an important element in the constitution. New appointments must shortly be made. It would be better if these were not made haphazard, or on personal or political grounds. The opportunity should be definitely used to inaugurate a new and« ordered policy of selection tending to raise the status of the Legislative Council and give it a more influential and therefore more effective voice in Parliament.