LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10422, 26 July 1895, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.

Sydney, July 24. Mr Bruce Smith, a member of the late Parke3 Ministry, (states in a,letter to the Herald that six months ago he was interviewed by Mr Keid, whsn the latter told- him that he was one of the members whom the Government intended to nominate to tha Legislative Council, aad asked his views on certain bills whfch the Government sending to the Council. Mr Smith replied that he was willieg to accept, a seat, but .must utterly refuse to be politically bound to any policy, and that ha innßt be free to act as his conscience directed^ He has not since heard from Mr Rsid, and theiefoie concluded that he was not suitad to Mr Raid's policy. This, he says, is a sample of the Premier's humiliating aad degrading ideas of Council reform.

fiir-Reid, on being interviewed, said/that he had proposed to appoint Mr Smith because he s?ae a loading Freetrader, bat as he believed Mr Smith was opposed to the Government taxation proposals hs (Mr Reid) considered it was only ri^ht, ia the face of his election pledges, to ascertain Mr Smith's views with respect to the Government programme. The Gavernrneat had scarcely a friend in the Council, and out of fairness to their policy he considered that he was perfectly juaUfiad in not adding tQ the strength of the enemy. Ha - cited the deadlock in' New Zealand between the New Zealand Government and Lord Glasgow over the Council nominations, and ' Lord Ripon's acknowledgment of' the Government's right to appoint supporters. Lord Ripon, iar from seeing anything' questionable ia it, had frankly admitted that Ministers were entitled to increase the number of their supporters, iind he thereby snaobsd Lord Glasgow. Mr Raid .claims that he would have been unfaithful to his promises i£ he bad attempted to acs otherwise. Both Sir G. R. Dibbs and Sir H. Parkes, he said, had acted similarly under similar circumstances.