17

A.—7a

constituencies] [not every measure, but every great fundamental change]. Then, if the people declare that they want these measures passed, it will be the duty of the Council to bow to that opinion, however unwise they deem it. To oppose it further would be unconstitutional obstruction. The Government policy measures which the Council rejected last session, and on which a most improper clamour against that Chamber has been raised., were the Payment of Members Bill, in respect to the largely-increased payment proposed ; the Land Bill, so far as the extinguishment of the freehold tenure is concerned; and the [repurchase of private lands for settlement purposes] [rejected by small majority]. The Council is perfectly right in insisting that the deliberate sense of the country shall be taken on these proposals. Certainly, they were not prominently before the country at the general election. The proper course for the Government to adopt is to appeal from the Council to the country on these measures for on the question of bringing the Upper House into harmony with the Lower] , instead of attempting to swamp the Council by the creation of new members without the country being consulted, or the using of wild threats with a view to coercing the Council into abandoning its constitutional position. Lord Onslow has, in the most admirable manner, pointed out to his Advisers the constitutional course which they should follow. If they pursue it they will, we are convinced, find that the Council will accept the interpretation of its functions as laid down by the Governor, and act constitutionally with the common-sense credited to it by His Excellency.

Memoeandum from the Pbemiee. The Premier presents his compliments to His Excellency, and has perused the memorandum proposed to be left for Lord Glasgow. The Premier does not at present see the necessity of going into the question at length. The Government think that their position in the Council is such that the legislation demanded by the country cannot be given effect to, and that, in order to carry out the will of the people, as represented at the ballot-box, at least twelve new Councillors ought to be created. The Premier does not acknowledge the accuracy of the article contained in the Evening Post, a journal personally and malignantly hostile to the Government. Premier's Office, 16th February, 1892. J. Ballance.

His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow. The enclosed papers were shown to the Premier that he may know exactly what has taken place between Lord Onslow and his successor, but Lord Onslow judges that he is within his rights in leaving any memorandum he may think it right to leave for the information of his successor. The article in the Evening Post only professes to interpret Lord Onslow's personal views, and Lord Onslow says that they accurately represent them. The Post has also been, up to their article, "personally and malignantly hostile, to Lord Onslow," and it is not, therefore, for any reason that the article is appended except that it expresses in easily-read form exactly that which Lord Onslow feels. 16th February, 1892. 0.

Enclosure 4 in No. 9. Exceept from Hansard, 24th June, 1892 : Legislative Council. Me. Eolleston asked the Premier, If the rumour which is current to the effect that Ministers have on two occasions during the recess tendered important advice to the Crown affecting the present constitution of the Upper House, and that the advice has not been accepted, is correct; and, if so, will he state, for the information of this House, the particulars of the course which Ministers have taken, and what they propose to do under the circumstances ? Mr. Ballance said that to the first part of the question he had to reply that the rumour was correct, that during the recess the Governor had been advised to make such addition to the strength of the Legislative Council as would enable it more effectively to discharge its functions, and to perform them more in harmony with the opinion of the country, and that that advice had not been accepted. In answer to the second part of the question, he had to say that the Government had conveyed to His Excellency the advice that less than the addition of twelve members would not place the House in a state of efficiency. The course which Ministers might pursue would depend upon the course of legislation.

Enclosure 5 in No. 9. Numbee of Members in the Legislative Council who have appeared on the Eoll each Year for the Last Fifteen Years. 1878, 46; 1879, 49; 1880, 46; 1881, 43; 1882, 47; 1883, 50; 1884, 49; 1885, 53; 1886, 53; 1887, 49 ; 1888, 45 ; 1889, 43 ; 1890, 39 ; 1891, 46 ; 1892, 35.

3—A. 7a.