THE UPPER HOUSE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 257, 29 September 1932, Page 2

THE UPPER HOUSE

SPECULATION OVER APPOINTMENT 6.

SEVERAL NEW NAMES MENTIONED.

are three more members due to lour on October 28. • xi lP No maximum number of seats in t Council was fixed either by the _ Con stitution Act or by the Lcgisl *•[ of 1891 but m practice the Council has maintained about half the strength of the House of Representatives uh ch is eighty. There have been times when the number of members in the Council has considerably exceeded tortj, as appointments have been made by a new Government coming into office to ensure that its policy will not be frustrat ed by the Upper Chamber. , After several retirements had taken place last session the Prime Minister stated that no further appointments were contemplated, but with the death of one member and the early retir - ment of Sir Heaton Rhodes, Hon. L. M. Isitt and Hon. G. Witty it is freely rumoured that the Government is considering the question of increasing the strength of the Council. Among those who are stated to be u the running for seats in the Upper House are Mr Harold Johnston, K.L-, Sir James Gunson, Mr J. ARIL Dickson and Mr T. W. Rhodes, all of whom are Reformers. Mr Dickson was iolmerly member for Chalmers and Mi Rhodes sat in Parliament as member for Thames. Neither sought rc-elec; tion in 1928. Mr Johnston unsuccessfully contested the Hutt seat in the 1929 bv-election, and on several occasions' Sir James Gunson lias stood for Auckland seats. Should Sir James be called to the Upper House lie would he obliged to resign from the Railway Board. , , .. . The Prime Minister was asked tins afternoon whether there was any announcement to make concerning fresh appointments. He gave a negative answer. While neither confirming nor denying the suggestion that further appointments might bo made, Mr Forbes made it clear that no immediate additions to the Council are contemplated. He observed that even at its reduced strength the Council was doing its work well and meeting all requirements.