Grey River Argus and Blackball News

Grey River Argus, 24 August 1912, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News

Delivered every • mornitfg in afeymbutb. Kumara, Hokitika, Dobsou. Wallsend, Taylorville, Brunnertou, Stillwater. Ngaliere, Blackball, Nelson Creek, Abaura, Ikamatua.- Waiuta. Keefton, Cronoduu, Runauga, Dunollie, Cobilen, Baxtoi s, Kokiri, Patara, Kaimatai, Aratika, Kotuktt, oana, Rum, Te Kinga, Rotcmauu, Jfoerua. übonnia, Jaoksons nnd Ofcira SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, i 91 2. !

THE Hon Sej'mour George resumed the debate on the Legislative Council Reform Bill on, Thursday evening 1 . Although he approved of tlie pr.in.cipje of the Bill ihe .is not satisfied with the details, and will probably be found votipg- for the fimendment that it be read that day si* months. The Hon. O. Samuel also considered that' the system of nomination should cease, but the method proposed by the Bill is not to his liking:. He especially objected to the election of the Council , by the people. - The Hon G. Jones failed to see what fault there was to be found with either the personnel or the constitution of the Council, and

instanced some of the excellent sam-

ples'of -legislation that originated in that body. Judging- by the "tone of the speakers in! the debate so far there would -not seem to be any .great prospect of the Government reforming- the constitution of the Legislative Council this session: . Probably at would be as well for Mr. Massey to £r eat the question of; the reform of the Upper House -as^ he [is doing with the other numerous reforms that he. was so ready to parry out when he was only leader of the Opposition. He should take back;'the. Legislative Council Reform Bill. .and. give itarlittle'more consideration when he is taking; time to consider other proposed reforms. Government .supporters make touching appeals'to the, House for more time so '. as to enable; Ministers to have time to think, matters over, as the .Hon Mr. Fisher with ,the tariff .question 1, and . Hbni.Mr.'Herries with; the.question, of the representation of the Native xace. Akhoug-h . the: former. Opposition had their minds made up on, all-these matters, long; ..ago, "at is .not altogether disappointing-- to see that they are. at .last beginning- to reaKse something of the responsibilitise of. the work of administration, and of which they seemed to haVe a very. inadequate idea while filling an irresponsible position. The Hon. Mr-. Jones made a gentle reference to the heinousness-of- a party that could strenuously- oppose mea- . sures one,day, and on the next bring them 'forward as their own, at the same time politely intimating that the Couivoil would understand^ the reference: Be that as it.may, it is easy' to see that the Premier is beset with precisely-the same sort of. difficulty that M.r. Asquith was met with in dealing with the House- of Peers. Mr Massey is expecting a great deal from ordinary human nature •in lookingfor, the .nominees of the ..Council to hail with a welcome the order for the extinction 1 of their own dignity., There are members pf that digaiinea body that. could -not hope, to rerentex the ChamUer any more under any elective .system. All members of that clas,s may-be counted upon to oppose any change iii .the, constitution of the Council .thit would prejudice -their position. As there, is .a good deal to .be said for ' and against, both the nominated and ■ elective systems, the Dominion would lose nothing by postponing, the attempt to, reforrri the Council to a future occasion 1. The country is not yet prepared for the 'abolition of the Legislative Council _ altogether; as so many of the Labour Party, would seem: to desire. ■-'It is quite true, as is urged in favour of* a single chamber, that at could revise its own .work; ~and even if it made mistakes one .session it could correct them in the next. •.. But infinite injury might be done in the meantime undea* the impulse of a wave of popular excitement The more prudent plan, therefore, would seem to be to have a second body that would remain cold and umimpassioned by popular cTamour. Such a class is more likely to be obtained under > a system of nomination, than by election. The! ideal Council would no doubt be one that was. composed entirely of n\en of affairs of ability amd experience. If previous Governments had kept this guiding principle in mind in making their appointments to the Legislative Council a great deal less would have been heard about the riecessify for reform. But, unfortuniately for the credit of Liberal Ministers in particular, the appointments to the Council made that, body an object of "derisdon instead of confidence and are^pect, as it ought to be. . This feature became so conspicuous, indeed, that the vulgar wit of the day designated the Upper Chamber as an y /'"Old Men's Home/ or "a refuge for the maimed, the halt, and the blind." ' All Governments alike abused v their power in order to serve party purposes,'just as m«)st parties are a little apt to do when they are not kept in check by any statutory provision. It was only to be expected in such circumstances that the public should cry /Mil for the reform of the Council. But when the Government ha"s to take up this attitude towards the. Council of saying to it "Dilly, dilly! come and be killed," it is only reasonable that "Dilly" should object to doing the "harri-harri" trick out of a pure spirit of patriotism. Like a goqd many more of the contemplated reforms that the Massey ..Government have had in their mind's eye, they seem to have started before they were ready. "The • .Dominion" laments the fact .that they have not yet displayed any sort of readiness to tackle anything in the way of reform that would be likely to count in Uic adminisration of our-public affahs.- When the present Government wcie in Opposition, their eternal prayer was-p "Only eive us a chance V? They are now having every .possible . chance. They are neither hustled, bustled, nor abused. 'Hiey are given .their own time and allowed to arrange" "matters in their own way; and the-pubilic is patiently awaiting practical'results. If indications count , for , anything we shall have to, want a good deal longer before the Massey -Government , will surprise anyone with their wonderful reforms. _ , _. , „,_