THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9143, 27 August 1888, Page 5

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

f-BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.]

Wellington, Saturday. The Legislative Council has been busily engaged all day on the Native Policy and other Bills.

This Chamber has raised itself greatly in popular estimation this session by the manner in which it has conducted the public business. Hitherto there has been a popular tradition that instead of being a really live co-ordinate branch of the Legislature, it lias only shown its vitality, and asserted itself by throwing out Bills at the close of the session. That idea may be regarded as exploded. The reports of the committees of the Council have this session been remarkable for their outspoken character, for the careful and exhaustive treatment of public questions manifested, and they will form valuable contributions to the Parliamentary literature of the session. The Council has shown that it has both the power and the will to pursue a career of usefulness, and to exercise a beneficial influence on the legislation of the country. It has declined to be a party to rushing through Bills at the last moment without, proper consideration, and on the late division on that matter carried by the Speaker's casting vote, Sir W. Fit/Herbert, very properly stated that it was the bounden duty of the Council in the interest of the country to see that every measure received due consideration.

While referring' to the Council. I may say that I find oil making further inquiry to-day that the lion. Mr. Peacock would have been acting quite within his rights had he not put in an appearance this session. It seems that a member may be absent one session without leave of absence, but that if ho is absent two sessions' under such circumstances it disqualifies hi in. Some members of the Upper House do not seem quite clear as to the legal position themselves, but this may arise through the recent controversy in the Chamber as to the alleged disqualification of certain Councillors, and the doubts that existed as to the legality of their leave of absence, for it was through a conversation with two members of the Upper House that I was led unwittingly into error in narrating the matter. It is due to the Hon. Mr. Peacock to correct this misapprehension. As the honorarium is based on attendance at the Council the disciples of Joseph Hume are not likely to be deeply agitated over Mr. Peacock's amount, as he will only receive it for the two or three days that he has been present; still withal it is desirable in the interests of the country, in the interests of Parliament, and in the interests of hon. members themselves, that they should, unless there are good and sufficient reasons to the contrary (and Mr. Peacock may have those reasons), bear their fair share in the labours and lesponsibilitiesof the session, and thus prevent, the anomaly of members arriving at the close of a session, only in time to do little more than assist in "the massacre of the innocents." The Post, referring to the action of the Council, says:—"The Legislative Council very properly, and with due regard to its own dignity, yesterday refused to accept the position into which the Attorney-General tried to force it. of for the remainder of the session abandoning the character of a deliberative Chamber, and becoming a mere registry of the hasty and ill-advised measures passed by the other House. The way business is hurried through the Lower House towards the end of a session is a public scandal. Months are passed in useless wrangling, and then things are rushed through in a few hours, the proper con-, sideration of which would occupy days or weeks. All sorts of serious errors are made in the last hours of every session, and it is decidedly refreshing 10 find the Legislative Council refusing to be unduly hurried. The country has reason to be thankful to it for making a stand." The Press remarks on this head :—" In this emergency the Legislative Council have been faithful to the end. They have resolved to do the work that has to be done as thoroughly as they have done the work that is done, and they are preparing, if need be, to support a prolonged struggle in accordance with the rights and the fluty of Parliament against wrong doing of any kind. We hope yet to see the remnant of the House of Representatives exercise a powerful check upon the Ministry, but we fear the best hope of the country is in the Legislative Council."

Sunday. The Legislative Council made matters lively during its session yesterday. It threw out the Point Resolution Bill, made important amendments in some of the native policy Bills (which are threatened with further stonewalling in the Lower Chamber), and laid aside the District Railways Act Purchasing Amendment Bill. With regard to the Point Resolution Bill, the Hon. Mr. Stevens v.'as in charge of the Bill, and explained how it became a Government Bill, and its provisions. The opposition to it was based on the grounds that it was really a private Bill, that further inquiry should be made into the matter, that Mr. Kissling should have the opportunity of taking such action as he thought tit before the Bill became law. A further ground of opposition was that the Government could gain nothing by this legislation, but that the country would probably be mulcted in considerable expense in commissions of inquiry and arbitration before the matter was ended. Some complimentary references were made to Mr. Brewer, who had conducted the negotiations in this and in the Stark purchase. Sir George Grey, I understand, contemplates taking further proceedings, but of what nature has not yet been determined. Of the Auckland members of the Council the Hon. Mr. Dignan voted for the Bill, and the Hon. William Swanson against it. The Bill was thrown out by a majority of five.

The laying aside of the District Railways Act will please most of the Auckland members, who were greatly opposed to it, save Mr. Whyte, who was desirous of relieving his constituents. The rates cannot be enforced under the present Act through faulty legislation, and have to be hung up again. The only step which could be taken this session is to bring in a new Bill minus the clauses objected to by the Council. The clauses objected to are those providing for the exemption of small settlers from rates where under £2 10s.

The Auckland Hospital Reserves Bill passed through all its stages in the Council. The Hon. P. Dignan took charge of the Bill when the Hon. Dr. Pollen left for Auckland. Only one verbal amendment was made in the preamble, which Mr. Dignan accepted.