LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 123, 28 May 1881, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

TO THX KDITOB OF THE EVENING POST. Sir— l certainly think the thanks of tho community are dne to yon for drawing attention to Legislative Council Reform in your issue of the 26th instant. As thiß fnattor is of vital importance to our futnro welfare, and one that will occupy the attention of electors, will yon kindly allow mo to mako a few remarks bearing upon this BttbjocfcP The first feature in the proposal of tho Ministry is to fix the numerical strength of the Council at half the number of the House of Representatives. This I contend would be a mistake. The TJppor House is, in you observe^ " for oheoking hasty legislation," and I will add this is its chief primary objeot. Tho Council reoeives most of tho work it has to perform from another branch of tho Legislature, and much that comes into that Chamber is Bimply of a formal oharaoter. There ure other considerations against tho number mentioned Probably one-third, or at most thirty-five members, would be found more to the advantago of the State Then, as to the proposed mode of elootion— diroot resolution of tho Honso of Representatives. By what reasoning it is boliovod that this plan would " ensure tho people being directly represented in the Upper House " I am at a loss to conceive ; and as to its weakening tho power of a Ministry or of a parliamentary majority, that is, without doubt, sheer nonsense. Looking closely, I cannot soo any great difference between the proposed form and that which already obtains. A Ministry having a majority wishes to elevate or gratify a friend, bo, instead of conferring the honor, as at present, the parliamentary majority moves a resolution which, of course, is carried. This is not reform, and to Bay that it is would be positive misrepresented tion. True reform, and that only, will satisfy New Zealanders. This most consist of something very different from the sketch given. The Legislative Council ought to bo elected by the colonists for a term of years— not for life— and the colony as one constituency should elect those members. Under these circumstances, the Council would cease to be a sinecure for men who have neither ability or knowledge to recommend them. The provision rotating to deadlock will assuredly bo necessary it such a scheme becomes a fact. 'J he settlement of a difficulty of this nature had better be left in the hands of the colonists. Many of your readers are aware that in South Australia the Legislative Council is elective. Last month six gentle« men retirod through efflux ion of time, and five of them sought re-election, as did also another gentleman who had occupied a Mat some years ago, and who has made mofi than one attempt to get returned. All these gentlemen were with two exceptions rejected; the two elected oocupied fourth and sixth places, and it transpired that the last, fair Henry Ayers, would nob havo been returned bad a suitable candidate been found in the number. I should mention that there were eleven candidates altogether. Upon this point the South Australian Register says: — "It was. felt that the old members deserved some punishment for their obstructiveness and their cool defiance of public opinion, but it was questioned whether the electors would be true to their openly expressed views when they got to tho ballot box. There is, however, no doubt about it now. The positions that Sir H. Aycrs, Sir W. Milne (president), Mr. Hay, and Mr. Fisher occupy on tho poll is a rebuff to them that they will not readily forget, * and shows how strong the desire for a radical change in the constitution of the Council must have been among the general body of voters throughout the colony." Now, I ask, ha/o not the olectors of New Zealand that intelligence to act in a like manner in case of a doad-lock becoming imminent through obstructive members in the Council, if it were in their power to do SO ?< I think so. There is another question I will ask, and leave to colonists to answer them* selves. How many honorable gentlemen in the New Zealand Legislative Council at the present moment would retain their position if they had to seek election every ten years I am, &c , Unoiioo. Wellington, 27th May, 1881.