Legislative Council Appointments

Evening Star, Issue 8769, 9 March 1892, Page 4

Legislative Council Appointments

The Melbourne 'Argus' of the Ist insfc. contains an artiole on the issue between Lord Onslow and Mr Ballance in regard to the Legislative) Counoil appointments. It points out that Mr Sallance, although successful in placing upon the Statute Book last session certain legislation which it has taxed the energies of his Government ever since to defend, was baulked at several points by the resolute opposition of the Legislative Council, and therefore desired to swamp the contumacious body by the oreation of new members. The artiole proceeds: " But Lord Onslow, who has watched the course of events in his official capacity ever since the Ballance Ministry assumed office, has determined that no contingency which would render this extreme step defensible has so far arisen, and he has had sufficient courage and independence to adhere to his views, in spite of the advice tendered to him. It is only necessary to remember that the Ballance Government have held power but for one full working session to recognise at once the justice of the ex-Governor's deoision. There cannot be a rag of justification for asserting that the nominee Counoil has persistently thwarted the will of the people. The Government measures have been passed but once in the Lower House, and have not been submitted again to the people. It is the mission of such a body to oheok, not some, but all, legislation whioh it deems to be hasty or ill-advised, and afford time for its reconsideration by the oommunity Itself, and there has been no snob reconsideration, This view evidently presented itself to Lord Onslow, for while expressing his willingness to fill up the vacancies in the Counoil oaused by death, he declined to make the sweeping alteration in its constitution desired by Mr Ballanoe. The matter therefore stands in abeyance until the arrival in the colony of the Earl of Glasgow, the newly-appointed Governor, who, It seems, is to be met on

landing by Ma responsible advisers with a request that he will take the step whloh hit predecessor has just refused to take. Obviously, however, the position of Lord Glasgow will be greatly strengthened by what has ooourred, and that of Mr Ballanoe correspondingly weakened. If the Governor, who was at the head of affairs during the politioal developments whloh led to this demand, has felt unable to oomply with it, how oan his successor, coming new upon the aoene, and unfamiliar with the oircumstances, exoept by hearsay, be expected, as his first official aot, to reverse that decision. One oan be somewhat sorry for Lord Glasgow, who will have to deal with so delioate a problem immediately on his arrival, and if Lord Glasgow does give way we must be sorry, for the Legislative Gounoil of New Zealand, whioh is the creature of the demagogue of the hour, will be useless for service and ignominious in position."