STRENGTHENING OUR SENATE.

Free Lance, Volume I, Issue 48, 1 June 1901, Page 8

STRENGTHENING OUR SENATE.

Honour to Whom Honour is Due. THERE is not much likelihood of anyone cavilling at the action of the Government in calling the Hon John McKenzie to the Upper House. As the author and initiator of our present land system, he has rendered the State most valuable service, and, if his health will permit him to re-enter Parliament, and afford the country the advantage of his ripe judgment and practical experience m assisting to mould our legislation, then it must be matter for general satisfaction. The surprising thing is that Mr McKenzie has so far modified his opinion about the Upper Chamber as to deign to accept a seat within its walls. ♦ • « Time was when he was wont to speak in open derision of the "fossils" in another place, and when he took no pains to conceal his contempt for that branch of the Legislature. But then, Mr. McKenzie was labouring under a sense of strong resentment, and at such moments even statesmen do not nicely weigh their words or trim their phrases He had returned to Parliament with a clear mandate from the people in favour of his land settlement policy, and that mandate the Upper House had flouted and contemned by attempts to emasculate his legislation. No wonder that his Celtic blood boil

Ed in his veins, and that his supple tongue gave caustic expression to his ovei wrought feelings • • • It may be that Mr. McKenzies acceptance of this appointment is but the prelude to the conferring of knighthood upon him. If it should be so, political opponents, as well as political admirers, will readily confess that the honour has been fairly won John McKenzie was ever a strong party man, but, through both good and evil report — m season and out of season — he has laboured steadfastly and conscientiously to one great end : to prevent the accumulation of land in the hands of a small privileged class, and to make th- 1 conditions of settlement so easy that no man may be debarred the opportunity of establishing a home fox himself. ♦ ♦ ♦ We should like to see the Government go one step farther. Theio are in this colony two very old and distinguished statesmen, who arc held in the highest esteem, and why), at present, are not engaged in public affairs. Like Mr. McKenzie, thsy are capable of rendering great seivices to Parliament. We refer to the Hon. Mr. Rolleston and Sir John Hall. True, they are both identified with the party which has been consistently opposed to the Govepiment. But what of that? The Government party was never fee strong in numbers, and the Cabinet was never so firmly entrenched in the confidence of the people as they are now Under the circumstances, it would be both a graceful and a gracious act to reward the lifelong public services of Mr. Rolleston and Sir John Hall by calling them te the Legislative Council.