THE POLITICAL POSITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7038, 18 December 1890, Page 3

THE POLITICAL POSITION.

Legislative Council Appointments: Mr Ballance'B Protest. Meeting of Parliament.] [Peb Pbess association.] WELLINGTON, Dec. 18. At the request of the Governor, Mr Ballance has forwarded hia reasons for protesting against the appointments to the Legislative Council, in which he!states— that the general election placed the Ministry in a minority is ascertainable from the declaration o£ the successful candidates, and this deprives the Ministers of the right to advise the Governor to perform so important an act as the making of appointments to the Council. Mr Ballance quotes authorities in support of his contention, and goes on to say that if it be alleged that there is no certainty about the state of parties, it is sufficient to reply that the Ministry is not supported by a majority, and that advice has been given to convene Parliament at an exceptional time to find a Ministry that shall be supported by a majority. Should, therefore, the appointments be made on the advice of a Premier not predominant, the effect wonld be to create that hostility at starting referred to by the authority quoted, and to thwart and obstruct the advisers to be summoned by the Governor to succeed those who had ceased to represent the pnblio or popular sentiment. Mr Ballance also brings under the Governor's consideration that one of the political issues raised in the recent elections was the reform of the Legislative Council. The leader of the Opposition proposed to abolish the life tenure of Councillors in all future appointments, substituting appointments for seven years. This reform would probably be submitted in one of the earliest measures introduced by any Ministry formed from the Opposition, and it appears to Mr Ballance that it would jeopardise any such measure to appoint men for life whose opinions might be hostile to the change. He mentions that the Premier in 1887 gave an assurance from the Ministerial benches that no more nominations would be recommended to the Council, until the number was reduced to one-half of that of the House of Bepresentatiyes, bb fixed under the Bill then passing through the Legislature. The number of members in the Council is Btill in excess of this proportion. In conclusion, Mr Ballance submitted for the Governor's consideration that the appointments to the Council cannot be justified on any ground of urgency before the meeting of Parliament, unleßß it be an apprehension that it would then be no longer possible to recommend them; but that such fear, expressed or implied, is no reason likely to commend itself to the Governor. The Cabinet have decided to call Parliament together for the despatch of business on Friday, Jan. 23. It is improbable that tbe Government will decide on the Legislative Council appointment* this month. ,^,^