THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18877, 1 June 1923, Page 6

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The nomination, which takes effect from to-day, of Mr James Craigie, Mr F. Mander, Mr Edward Newman, and Dr A. K. Newman as members of the Legislative Council was generally expected. Tlip, four gentlemen who are thus being “called” to the UpperHouse have all rendered public service of a kind that renders unexceptionable the selection of them as members of a Chamber that is recruited under a system of nomination. That is a system which was to have been abolished years ago. The enactment, however, which the Reform Government was responsible 'for placing on the Statute Book, providing that the Legislative Council should become an elective Chamber, is simply a dead letter. The date of its coming into operation has. been postponed, and again postponed, by legislation so' that the Government has plainly exposed itself to the taunt that it has grown cold in respect of its proposals for the reform of the Second Chamber. It maybe surmised that Mr Massey is unwilling to surrender the patronage that is enjoyed by a Prime Minister under the nominative system. That patronage has, as a whole, it is to be recognised, been wisely exercised by the Reform Government, and the four new Councillors whom we have mentioned furnish a fresh illustration of the reasonableness of the discretion that has been shown by it in the selection of members of the Upper House. Mr Mander completed, with the expiry of the last Parliament, an unbroken period of 20 year’s’ service in the House of Representatives; Mr Craigie and Mr Edward Newman each served continuously for fourteen years in that House; and Dr Newman, who was first elected to the popular Assembly in 1884 but was out of Parliament for fifteen years after 1896, has a total record of sendee of 23 years in the Lower House. A fifth new member of the Council is a Native appointee, concerning whose nomination it is only necessary to say that the Maori race has for some time past been inadequately represented in the Upper House.