REFORM OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 15

REFORM OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

It was a pretty good plank, too.— (Applause.) There was difference of opinion as to the form of the reform, but there was no difference of opinion as to whether it required reform or not.— (Applause.) On his trip to the south some time ago the Premier kept telling the people that the Council, which was largely a creature of his own creating, was to be reformed, and in the Speech from the Throne reform of the Council was foreshadowed. It was naturally expected that some amendment would be proposed, and that opportunity would be given to Parliament to consider the constitution. Nothing of the sort. It was left to a private member to introduce a bill. It was rather a crude affair; it simply proposed that the Council should be limited to 40 members, and as vacancies occurred they should be filled up by vote in the House. This bill passed its first and second readings and went through committee, and even came to its third reading- ; then the Government saw that the bill was going to pass after all, and so the Whips were got to work and the bill was thrown out. The fact that that bill was largely supported by the House showed that the feeling — not only ; on tlie part of. the people, but also on the part of their representatives in the House — was that the time was ripe ; and he believed the time was not far distant when reform of the Council woald be demanded. — (Applause.) The Premier nominated certain men and ' the Governor appointed them — the Governor ! had practically no option. There was a, Governor who --rather and the ""^matter was referred- to the Home Govern- ' ment, which told that Governor he had ■ better take the advice of his Advisers. — I (Laughter.) Since then there had been no objection.— -{Laughter.) The duties of the Legislative Council were just as important as the duties of the men who represented ' the people. The Council was supposed to amend the legislation passed by the House, and it could initiate legislation on its own account. The members of the Council were practically appointed by one man. What was the qualification of these people? Did , anyone imagine that the- most experienced men were appointed? Not a bit of it. The men who were appointed to the Council were men who had influence behind them. The Premier was particularly sweet on newspaper proprietors — (laughter), — and he had been giverr to understand there were about six newspaper men in Dunedin looking forward to appointments to the Council. — (Laughter.) Men had been appointed to • the Council who had nul the confidence of the people of the country ; there were men on the Council who would not be put on a road board or a school committee. — (Laughter.) And yet these people had the power to make important amendments in the law — for instance, the Shops and Offices Bill. And he wanted to tell the country that the Council would be -watched next year as it had not been watched for a good many years. The remedy was that men who made the laws should be elected by the people themselves. — (Applause.) It was proposed by an able politician — a man who was a statesman— that the Council should be limited to 40 and vacancies should be filled up by tie House. He (Sir Massey) believed the only remedy was to elect the members of the Council through the electors.— (Applause.) It could be easily done. There were £0 electorates, and if two were run together there could to 40 representatives for the Council- The only objection lie had heard to this was that by enlarging the electorates it was made impossible for a poor man to canvass the district. Then, he would say, do away with canvassing; he would run half a dozen together and elect on the Hare system. He would make it impossible for canvassing to be carried en to any extent.— (Apjilaute ) He would not pace difficulties in the way of a poor man who desired to stand for election for the Council, and by this means the country would get a Council composed of thoronghly intelligent and experienced men in whom the people, of the country would have confidence and whom the people would be proud of. There was no reason to be proud of the present Legislative Council.— (Laughter and applause.) There might be points of difference amongst members ot the party hs (Mr Massey) belonged to, but there" was no difference of opinion with regard to the necessity for reform of the Legislative Council, and tlia whole force the Opposition could l>rhi<j to bear would ho brought to bear to make this institution mov^ representative of the people —(Applnuse.^ He noticed the Premier said they darer; not repeal any of the acts he had placed on the Statute Book. Ho (the speaker) always understood an act of Parliament was the work not of one man. but of the whole Parliament, and he could tell them that if the Opposition party had not done it 3 duty well in amending the crude measures introduced by the Government, he honestly did not believe the Government would have been in office that day. As to their not daring to repeal any act, there was an act the Premier would be very tf'-atl to tepeal, the much-disoussed