UPPER HOUSE RECRUITS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 59, 10 March 1936, Page 8

UPPER HOUSE RECRUITS

The raising of the strength of the Legislative Council from 26 to the conventional 40 —by the nominating of 14 new members, not all Labour men —is a normal consequence of the General' Election. Having several Labour men now in the Council, the Government could have nominated fourteen Labour stalwarts,. giving its action the • appearance of making the Council about half Labour; or the Government could have done what it gracefully has done, that is, temper party colour with public spirit. Recognition of the services of Sir Charles Statham, former Speaker, is a national gesture that, in our opinion, becomes a Labour Government, especially as in other States the discipline of a nonLabour Speaker is not always kindly remembered by its subjects. And people with memories, whatever party they belong to, will be glad to see the veteran Mr. J. A. McCullough recognised. The appointment of Rangi Mawhete is a reminder that the Prime Minister has retained for himself the Native Affairs portfolio, and many people are waiting to see what his Maori policy will be and whose advice he takes; here, too, there is a chance to be national, not party, in spirit. A Labour Government can become in practice either a community Government or a Communist Government, and the gap between the two is far greater than the slight difference in letters. New Zealand is watching to see which road is taken.