LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

Observer, Volume XVIII, Issue 1093, 9 December 1899, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

Hands Off— Leave It Alone.

It iB a oity Mr Seddon's memory is bo awfully short. One gets bo tired of jogging it. However, it mast be done. In Auckland, he never misses a chance of using Sir George Grey's name to get on the soft side of the Auckland people. But when he comes to think of it, wasn't it more than a trifle riaky of him to tell them in one breath at the Opera Honse last week that he was the devoted and beloved disciple of Grey — that Grey it was who made him a political leader — and then, in almost the next breath, to expose his hostility to the Opposition's demand that the Legislative Council shall be made elective ?

The very people who now roar themselves hoarse in cheering him — the very people he was addressing — were these who, in years goce by, pledged themselves to every plank of Bir George Grey's platform. And one of the most prominent planks in that memorable platform was an elective Upper House. Yet Mr Seddon, not many months ago, paid our Chamber of Nominees and Fossils is now as near perfection as possible And last week he told the Auckland people

they had better leave it alone — that sooner than allow it to be made elective by the people, he would reform it oat of existence altogether. Shades of Grey ! , What a complete change of front ( That which Grey Bought by Bill to accomplish — that which his followers, with strennons endeavour, sought to achieve — Seddonism won't have at any price. ' It is the Conservative party alone— and the Left Wing— that are now willing to trust the people by taking Upper House patronage out of the hands of the Government and enabling them to choose their lawmakers. Which are the true Liberals ?