Evening Post SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1885. REFORM OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 10, 11 July 1885, Page 2

Evening Post SATURDAY, JULY 11, 1885. REFORM OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The Legislative Council does not toko kindly to the idea of any alteration in its constitution. It has, very unwisely we think, rejected the moderate and reasonable measure of reform to which the Colonial Secretary invited its assent, and it has, by the Speaker's casting vote, appointed a Committee to consider the question of the Council's present constitution, powers, and procedure, with a view of suggesting any amendments or alterations which it may deem desirable. There is not muoh good to be expected from the labours of this Committee. It was elected by ballot, and out of the nine members of whioh it is composed only two voted for the Government Bill. This alone shows pretty well the direction in which, ifc iB likely to report, and we regard Sir Fkedehick Whitaeee's motion for its appointment as a mere blind — an ingenious expedient to relieve the Council of the accusation of absolutely refusing to consider any proposal for reform of its constitution. The wording of the resolution is worthy of notice. The Committee is not only to consider the desirability of change in the constitution of the Council, but also in its powers and procedure. The significance of these words, powers and procedure, will be readily understood by all who are familiar ¦with our Parliamentary history, and with tho various measures which, have from time to time been introduced to define the powers of the two Chambers. Through a piece of slipshod legislation many years ago, the Council maintains that it legally possess the same powers in all respects as the representative branoh of the Legislature. This, of course, would mean, equal powers of dealing with money bills. Very wisely the Council has never attempted to fully exeroise these powers, or a dead-lock of the most pronounced character must have ensued ; but it has at the same time most steadily declined to assent to any amending Bill correcting the former Act and declaring that the Council is not invested with powers co-ordinate with the House of Eepresentatives. The Council has also always shown impatience of the amendment made in the Constitution Act, by -which the limitation of the number of members was done away with. We take it that if the present Committee recommends any alteration whatever in the mode of appointment or tenure of office of members, it will in return demand a limitation of its numbers, so as to protect it from the always present danger of being swamped by the special creation of new members to carry some par» ticuLar measure. The probability of sucb. an extreme step being taken is, of course, aot great; but the ffict that ilje power exists must always exercise a restraining influence on the Council, and tend to render it more amenable to public opinion than it would otherwise be. Its powers would be enormously increased by a limitation of numbers, and it would be at once transformed from a very useful into a very dangerous institution. In fact suoh a change would practically place the whole power of government in the hands of the (Council, and the representatives of the people would be reduced to a secondary position as compared with the nominees of the Crown. Such a price would be altogether too large to pay for any possible alteration, in either mode of appointment or tenure of office, to which the Council might in return be disposed to submit. The Bill introduced by the Government, but thrown out by the Council, would have satisfied all legitimate desira for a change, and would not in any degree have affected the vested interests or present rights of the members. They would have lost nothing in dignity or influence by accepting it, and they will probably yet realise the fact that they were ill-advised in not doing so. The measure was puri posely originated in their Chamber, so that tte desired reform might appear to proceed from themselves. They were afforded a fair opportunity for doing voluntarily and gracefully what they will undoubtedly yet be compelled to do, whether they like it or not. Indeed, if the House of Representatives once fairly takes ujp the question of reforming the Council, it is very improbable that it will stop at the very small measure recently proposed. The present constitution of the Council is not in harmony with public opinion or with the other institutions of <tfae country. Life appointments to the LegislsJture are undoubtedly obnoxious to the of the people, and they will not muoh longer be tolerated. The sooner tha present Cowcjllors understand this fact the better, ij tl\ey remain wilfully blind to it, they wifl some -of i&ese days without fail have their eyes opened, somewhat roughly perhaps.