Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, JUNE 14th., 1930. GREYMOUTH’S CLAIM

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 June 1930, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. SATURDAY, JUNE 14th., 1930. GREYMOUTH’S CLAIM

P’EW are sufficiently interested in the Legislative Council to be aroused over its personnel, but congratulations will be coming from their friends to the six new members, and especially on the West Coast, to Mr. Mark Fagan. Members of the Lower House claim to be underpaid and when their salaries were not raised last session, aroused considerable outside comment by voting themselves £lOO each as bonus. So far, few Legislative Councillors have seriously professed a belief that their services are insufficiently remunerated at £315 yearly each, nor does the outside public work up much sympathy for them, the general feeling being that better value should be obtained for the £13,000 (approx.) spent on Councillors salaries. Neither is the nation aroused over the delay in bringing into force the Act passed in 1914, making the Council an elective body. The plain fact is that the Upper Chamber has been given a bad name, and it suffers from this reputation. In theory, a Second Chambei’ is essential. In practice, its utility in this country has long been discounted. It is doubtful, nevertheless, if Labour proposals to abolish it are made with wholehearted sincerity, and certainly the other Parties would oppose such drastic action.

> Meanwhile, Greymouth may well ask why for so many years, none of its citizens has been thought worthy of the honour of being nominated to the Council by a. grateful Government. Buller and South Westland have not been so ignored, although, at present, owing to the regretted deaths of Hon. H. L. Michel, and Hon. J. Grimmond, South Westland is unrepresented in the Upper House. We have raised this issue, several times during recent years, but have not been supported by local deputations to Ministers. We have no individual claims to press, but as a matter of principle, we claim that it is unfair for the most important part of the West Coast, namely Greymouth and district, to be so long boycotted by the authorities,, in this matter. It is true that constituencies are not directly represented in the Council, but frequently opportunity arises therein to direct attention to special needs. Can it be doubted that Greymouth’s district interests would receive more attention if a Greymouth resident were in the Legislative Council? The next time Mr. Forbes visits the Coast, he should be approached on this matter, and be asked to acknowledge the fairness of the Grey district’s desire to be directly represented in the Upper House.