UPPER HOUSE

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3895, 28 April 1937, Page 12

UPPER HOUSE

FIVE MEMBERS TO RETIRE IN JUNE. EXPIRY OF TERMS. Five members of the Legislative Council Hon. M. Fagan (Wellington), Hon. R. Masters (Taranaki), Hon. D. Buddo (Canterbury), Hon. R. McCallum (Marlborough), and the Hon. J. Trevethick (Auckland) —will complete the terms of their appointment on June 10. All were appointed by the United Government, their membership of the Council dating from Juno 11, 1930. Another appointment made at the same time was that of the Hon. W. Stevenson (Invercargill), but he did not live long enough to complete his term, his death occurring on October 5, 1935. There are at present 38 members of the Council, the leader of which is Mr Fagan, who succeeded Mr Masters in that office after the return of the present Administration at the last general election. During the absence of Hon. W. Nash overseas Mr Fagan is also acting Minister of Customs. The retirements will therefore reduce the strength of the Council to 33, but it can be taken for granted that Mr Fagan will be immediately re-appoint-ed. Whether any of the others are reappointed or new appointments are made, remains to be seen. MEMBERSHIP NOT LIMITED. Although the number of members is not limited, it is the traditional practice to maintain the strength of the Legislative Council at about 40, representing half the strength of the House of Representatives. Up to 1891 members were appointed for life, but ever since that year the tenure ot appointment has been seven years. However, retiring members are eligible for le-appointment. The first Legislative Council ap pointed in New Zealand comprised 14 members, but the roll was gradually increased, standing at 36 in 1867. In 1873 there were 50 members, but the greatest strength was reached in 1885, in which year 54 members occupied seats in the chamber. Those were the days of large Parliaments, for from 1881 to 1887 there were 95 members of the House of Representatives. Thus a colony with a population of about 600,000 supported 149 members of the General Assembly, or one for every 4500 persons. For many years there were only minor fluctuations in the size of the Council. DECLINE IN NUMBERS. In 1900 the number was 45, but this had fallen to the orthodox 40 by 1910. There was subsequently a tendency for the roll to fall further. There were 34 members in 1916, 24 in 1917, and in 1918 the number dwindled to the low level of 20. New appointments brought the strength to 37 by 1919. Since then there have never been more than 42 members, a point reached in 1921, 1923, 1924 and 1926. The roll was 40 in 1930 and "35 in 1931. This was the figure when the Coalition Government was formed in September of the following year. As an economy measure the Coalition Administration was very sparing for the next three years in making reappointments and appointments. Deaths ot members, the non-renewal of the terms of others, and a resignation —that of Sir James Parr in order

to become for the second time High Commissioner for New Zealand in London—reduced the membership of the Council to 19. This was the lowest numerical strength since the very early days of its history. In June, 1934, the Coalition Government made 14 appointments, two of which were re-appointments, and this brought the strength ot the Council immediately up to 33. This number had dwindled to 26 when the Labour Government made 14 new appointments in March, 1936. REMOVALS BY DEATH. Comparatively recent removals from the Council by death include Sir Francis Bell, who died on March 13, 1936, and Sir William Hall-Jones, who died in June of the same year. Tlie death of the Hon. G. J. Anderson occurred on December 15, 1935. Legislation for the complete reform cf the Council is already on the Statute Book, and needs only an Order-in-Council to bring it into operation. It is contained in the Legislative Council Act, 1914, and its amendments, which proposed the division of New Zealand into four electorates — two in eacli island —and the election of councillors by proportional representation and on the same franchise as the election for the House of Representatives.