THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1504, 29 July 1912, Page 6

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

4 THE HON. G. JONES INTERVIEWED. .(Br TolcEraph—SDecial OormsDOßflenU Auckland, July 28. As the reform of the Upper Chamber is one of the legislative measures which the new Administration is likely to place before Parliament in the near future, an opinion on this question was sought by a reporter in Auckland from tho Hon. '6. Jones, M.L.C., who is at present on a visit to the northern city. N "•Well,", said Mr. Jones, "my view of tho. matter is this. J want, to' know why any objection, has been taken to tho present .constitution of 'the •Gouii'cil if tho performances of tho Council'were any indication of its excellence. .It seems to mo that if Great Uritai'it. had had a constitution similar to ours for its Upper Chamber,.'no : crisis.would' have taken place. ; 'lii my '''opinion, it is' practically impossible', for any representative system to' be satisfactory to the masses o'f tho people, although it seems'that the Labour representatives are in favour of the elective principle being"applied to the Council, " Whatever may be said, it is unquestionable that if .the elective system were applied to the Council, thoso who wero best known to tho community would lie given'preference on polling day. Those who were best known would bo those who were best advertised, either through their efforts or through the instrumentality of the press.. . No rising citizen would have any chance against a well-known man who had won his spurs (although in a capacity not conducive altogether to the good of tho country), if he had to depend upon an elective system to bring him to tho forefront as a legislative councillor." Questioned as to the possibility of a deadlock between the two Chambers in tho event of it Reform Bill passing tho House of 'Representatives. Mr. Jones said:— "If the lower House passed a Bill abolishing the Council as at present constituted, it would probably be rejected in the Upper Chamber. As the appointments arc, however, terminable after seven years, it is possible that a majority of the Council might bo brought to accept a' principle providing for tho election of its members, though there is no special provision under the New Zealand Constitution for. overcoming any inipasso such as occurred at Home. The Governor might bo induced to accept a recommnidation to appovnt a sufficient number of new members to overwhelm objectors in tho Council to tho principle." Speaking of the Council's'attitude on general legislation, Mr. Jorios remarked that tho Council as a. body were inclined to accept legislation of a. progressive character, though it might not come from those who had hitherto been viewed as the special friends of progress. HEAVY WORK. IBt Toleeraph.— Vtkss Association ) Auckland,/,! uly 28. Tn reference to the work of the Legislative Council, the Hon. It. Jones, M.L.C., remarked to a pressman this morning that it was quite possible, in view cf the heavy work which the Leader, of tho Council lias to perforin, that an .experienced Councillor may be appointed to render him assistance in oaso of need. It is very necessary that this should 1,0 done for whatever may be said to the cnitrary, there has always been an insufficiency of Ministers to deal with _ legislative work, both in Council and in the House of Representatives. • "Probably," added Mr. Jones, "there was no mini in Parliament, apart from tho Primo Minister, who could have withstood the strain of business as did Sir John Findlay. It was universally admitted, by both, his friends and foes, that in point of skill, assiduity, aid stayingpower, he was pre-eminent, and yet even he. endowed with such energies, occasionally seriously felt the pressure of tho work which he had to accomplish as the Leader of the Council."