New Members Of Upper House: A Short Term

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 June 1950, Page 2

New Members Of Upper House: A Short Term

WELLINGTON, This Day.—Some curiosity has been expressed regarding the term of appointment of the 25 new Legislative Councillors named by the Prime Minister (Mr Holland). Actually, • no term is mentioned in the warrants signed by the Gover-nor-General, but, at the moment, the new members, in common with their colleagues of longer standing, are nominally entitled to be in the Council for seven years. This terms is described in the Legislative Council Amendment Act. However, lest any member ot the taxpaying public consider that they are simply adding to the burden of maintaining Parliament, it can be emphasised that the Legislative Council Abolition Bill will set out a definite terminal date for the Council’s activities, and this will automatically take the 50 members of the Council off the country’s pay roll. It has been suggested in some quarters that the Legislative Councillors might be entitled \to some monetary compensation in respect of the unexpired portions of their terms, but it is extremely improbable that they will receive any material benefit. There is no obligation on the Government to provide such benefit. The most they can expect is the granting of free rail, passes for life, as was done when the Queensland State Parliament abolished its Upper House. At present Legisaltive Councillors qualify for this privilege after they have served 10 years, but it seems improbable that the newlyapbointed members would receive cuch a privilege after a term of only a feW months before the Abolition Bill becomes law. ___