The Star. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1892.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7201, 9 February 1892, Page 2

The Star. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1892.

tbe men the Government thinks enjoy the confidence of working men to Buch an extent as to make it desirable thoy should, on that account, be appointed to Beats in the Upper House. The Trades and Labour Council does not dictate what individual members are to be nominated for appointment. It only asks that it may know who those members are, It will, of course, readily recognise which members are supposed to have its confidence, and will then be in a position to confirm that supposition or point out any mistake. The Government will not be bound by the opinion thus given, but will, no doubt, be prepared to act upon it. The question of a nominated Upper House is involved in this matter. Ab at present constituted, that House represents the moneyed class exclusively, if it can be said to be representative at all. It ia true that many of tbe members did at one time hold seats in the House of Representatives, but the franchise under which they were elected was not the one-man-one-vote franchise which, now secures to labour something like a fair representation in the Lower House. The present Government is a people's Government, and no doubt haa at heart the well-being ef that class whioh hitherto has been neglected, if not oppressed, by our law-makers. In seeking to give that class a reasonably proportionate power in our legislative bodies, the Government cannot ignore its claims to have representatives in the Upper House. The present elective machinery does not provide for such representation, and the only way it can be provided for is that which the Trades and Labour Council at Wellington suggested. In other Colonies both Houses are elected, a property qualification being required for the Upper House. This system was adopted by men of property, who wished to thus perpetuate tbe predominance of power which tbey possessed at the time when the various Constitutions were agreed upon. The New Zealand Constitution contains no such provision for the protection of property, probably because its framers felt assured that property would look sufficiently well after its own interests, without special facilities being given. However, the absence of any property qualification for the Upper House makes it easy for a Government well affected towards working men, aa the present Administration is, to adjust the representation ther 9 in such a manner as to secure fair treatment of Labour Bills and any other matters in which the working men have Bpeoial interest.

Labour Dictating ? Much indignation has been expressed in some quarters at the so-called presumption of the members of the Tradeß and Labour Council, of Wellington, in asking the Premier to submit to them the names of any pereoss whom the Government intends to recommend hiß Excellency to call to the Upper House. This step is spoken of as dictation to the Government by their masters the working men. But we confess that we see no sign of dictation in it. The Trades andLabourCouncil claims that it represents the working men of the Colony, and the friends of capital take good care to write and speak aB if it waa responsible for any errors that may be committed by the working men. It has been persistently rumoured that among the persons whom the Government will shortly recommend to his Ercellency for nomination to the Legislative Council are several who are, if not actually mechanics, at least in antire sympathy with the working men. tf the Trades, and Labour Council really represents labour interests, nothing rarely is more natural than that ' t obonld know beforehand who are