ELECTIVE UPPER CHAMBER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15747, 23 October 1914, Page 4

ELECTIVE UPPER CHAMBER.

The passage of tho Legislative Council Rill through Committee of the House- of Representatives makes it practically certain that this important measure will become law this session. During tho discussion on the Bill Opposition members had some detailed criticism to offer, a great deal of partisan innuendo was indulged in, but no serious attempt was made to justify tho nominative system which the Continuous Government so jealously guarded against attack over a long 6e.ies of years, and by which they rewarded so many of their political friends and party workers. In the face of an election only two months distant Oppositionists realise that anything which leaves the way open for Ministerial rewards for electioneering services is beyond defence. The country, wisely led by the Massey Government, has made up its mind to abolish patronage. The civil service has been effectively reformed and should anything occur botwecn now and December to interfere with the promised reform of the Legislative Council the electors can be depended upon to make their wishes clear at the ballot box and to end for ever the controversy whether Government has a mandate from tho people to change the con-

stitution of the Council. The determination with which the Government has forced this Bill through, in face of apparently insurmountable obstacles, is clear evidence of its sincerity in the cause of Reform. It has been baffled in its effort to fix the first election for December, 1914, but it has been able to provide for the return of popularly-selected members at the following election, and for the retirement of the last nominated councillor threo years later. For this postponement of the effectivo operation of the Bill its opponents in the Legislative Council and in tho House of Representatives must be held responsible.