LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22064, 21 September 1933, Page 10

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

NEED FOR INCREASED STRENGTH

EARLY APPOINTMENTS EXPECTED.

(From Oub Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, September 20.

The necessity for building *up the strength of the Legislative Council to at least 30 members is being strongly urged in influential Government circles. The present membership of the Council is 21 compared with 40 three years ago. Many of the members are no longer young men, and at least three—Sir Edwin Mitchelson, Sir William Hall-Jones and Mr John MacGregor—are not in very robust health. Thus, as was remarked in one quarter to-day, it is almost impossible to form committees in the Council today because of the lack of available members. It was understood that seven or eight new appointments, including several former members, would have been made prior to the opening of Parliament to-morrow. It is known that Mr J. G. Coates (co-leader of the Coalition) is anxious that attention should be given to the matter and has only been awaiting the return of the Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes) to enable the question to receive attention. It appears that Mr Forbes does not regard tho matter with tho same degree of urgency. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that about seven new appointments will shortly be announced. There is no dearth of candidates among former members. Sir 11. Heaton Rhodes is believed to be certain of reappointment, while Mr J. B. Gow, a member of the Tariff Commission and a former Legislative Councillor, has substantial claims for selection. Mr Harold Johnston, K.C., is again being mentioned as a likely new appointee, but he is also regarded as being in the running for appointment to the Supreme Court Bench.