Hawke's Bay Herald. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1870. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 15, Issue 2012, 9 December 1870, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1870. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

There is a ferment in Wellington Province at present, on account of the acition of tho Legislature, last session, in connection with the District Highwaj's Act, passed by the Provincial Council of Wellington during its last session. Under that Act, land was to be rated for the purpose of constructing and repairing roads at so much pfer acre. As this ordinance required validation, it was inserted in the Provincial Ordinances Validation Bill. Ifc emerged from the process of validation altogether a different measure. A clause was introduced to the effect that the assessment should be at so mu<?h per pound on the valuation of the property, instead of at bo much per acre. The change was made in the Upper House, which consists, to a great extent, of large landholders, aud one can see., at a glance, that the change is made iv the interests of this class, and against those of the small farmers. The same body had the audacity, in validating an Otago Proviucial Ordinance, or, rather the proclamation which gave effect to it, to insert clauses which gave certain ruuholders a better position thau they would otherwise hare had. The Otago members rejected the change with indiguatiou, but the similar alteration iv the Wellington Act became law, apparently because no Wellington member was sharp enough to notice it. At the same time, there is no doubt that its existence as law will be a very brief one. Cases of this kind briug up the question, What possible purpose can be served by keeping up that effete anomalous institution that they call a Legislative Couucil. As for its checking hasty legislation, it canuot, by any chance, check any legislation on which the government of the day have set their minds. Any attempt on its part to do so would merely cause a creation of the requisite number of peers, pledged to support that government. All that these honorable gentlemen seem able to do, is to smuggle some infinitesimal swindle through their august assembly, and then to trust to Providence aud the chapter of accidents to keep it out of sight as loug as the House is sitting. Apropos of this subject, any Hawke's Bay man who takes the trouble to turn up in Hansard their debate on the Sales of Spirits in Native Districts Bill, will find some information that will surprise him. One honorable gentleman said, "At Napier, ifc was almost impossible to go at night from town to the place where he l-esided, a distance of eight miles, without great risk to life or limb." This was because " the natives would remain in town all day, where they become intoxicated. They generally left the town about dark, and, after riding about four miles, would stop and drink ; then, after proceeding another mile, they would drink again ; finally, they would arrive at a vow celebrated place, where they completed their debauch. It was almost impossible for females to pass along the road. Everything of the most obscene character took place there." Another member of the Council, whose residence in Hawke's Bay also entitled him to speak on the subject with authority, gave the fullest confirmation to the statement of his frieud, expressing his opinion that the Defence Minister, whose name was at the head of the Bill, " must be aware of the circumstances mentioned by his houorable friend, and also of the fact that the Native Assessor at Napier would be, perhaps, the very person who would ride against him every afternoon at full gallop along the high road." No doubt it is sufficiently dull work, listening, perhaps, day after day to lougwinded purposeless drivelling about the conduct of the Imperial Government, &c, knowing all the time that their debates will have about as much effect on the Imperial Government as on the signs of the zodiac ; and this dulness may be taken as some excuse for auy possible expedient to get up a sensation-.' Next session most likely will see some sweeping change made in the constitution of the Council. If it is to continue in existence at all, it seems to be generally recoguised that New Zealaud must follow the example of other aud older colonies, and make it elective. The necessity for this change has been urged frequently iv the House aud out of it, but has not hitherto been taken up with any great degree of earnestness by the public iv general. Most people are willing to admit that the Council, as it at present exists, is an incarnate absurdity ; but, among Englishmen, theoretical absurdities often drag out their existence long after they are seen to be such, so long as they do not become practically iucouveuieut. Hence, perhaps, its unconstitutional proceedings with regard to the validation of these Wellington and Otago ordinances may not turn out to be an unmixed evil, as it may tend to hasten ou the internal reform of the institution itself.