THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1056, 26 May 1892, Page 31

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The death of the Hon John Martin adds another to the fast increasing number of gaj>s made during the last few years m the Legislative Council. If we look back five years w-e shall find that the Counc l mustered forty-nine members. Of these death has, since May, 1887, removed the following :—Colonel Brett, IVEessrs Camp bell and Chamberlain, Sir William Fitzherbert and Captain Fraser, Messrs Fulton, Johnston, Lahmann, Martin, and Menzies, the Hon Wi Tako Ngatata, Messrs Peter, Reeves, and Robinson, Sir Frederick Whitaker and Mr James Williamson. In addition to these Mr Waterhouse has resigned his seat, and Mr Wigley s has been forfeited through mischance, making eighteen vacancies. We believe also that Messrs Acland, Bowen, Randall Johnson, Peacock, J. N. Wilson are not only absent from the Colony, but unlikely to return hither during the coming session. In spite, therefore, vff the seven nominations of 1890, this reduces the possible strength of the Upper House next session to thirty-three. Needless to say the Council can never count upon being fully re-

presented .in Wellington. Its actual strength is always below its possible strength, and sometimes very far below it. Almost always some or other cf its members are unfortunately on the sick list. Others are very busy men, weighted with important private affairs which keep them away from Wellington during much, if not the greater part, of the session. Unless, therefore, some fresh blood is infused into the nominated branch of the Legislature we may fairly expect to drift again this year into the old state of having an Upper Chamber whose business is languidly transacted by some twenty to five and twenty gentlemen. Of these all except two or three may safely be counted upon to offer a general opposition to the policy measures of the Government. Last year the Colonial Secretary was able, like Lord Randolph. Churchill in former days, to count upon a compact and faithful party of four. This winter may see this not extravagantly large or tyrannically powerful phalanx reduced by absence and ill-health to half its former dimensions. No doubt Conservatives think sincerely enough that a Liberal Ministry has no right to a following of any sort in the Upper House ; the place for Literals being in the popular Chamber. With that notion, however, we cannot be expected to agree, as it would place the expressed will of the majority at the mercy of a few representatives of a minority. While perfectly willing to see the Legislative Council continue to live and do useful work, Liberals have a right to hold that the Council should cease to be one-sided. It ought fairly to represent the nation and all classes of the nation. While admitting that as a revising body it should be largely leavened with the qualities of care and caution, we may argue that these are to be gained by providing that all Councillors nominated shall p -ssess prudence and a fair amount of experience of life and its affairs. That is the way to secure a sober-minded Council ; not by stuffing it from time to time with the determined partisans of the obstructive classes.