LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1553, 24 September 1912, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM. Sir,—lt would' be interesting to know whether public opinion has been declared in favour of the latest move of the Reform Government, namely,' tho proposal to enable it to supply the Legislative Council with a lot of temporary member?, filled with hope of reappointment every third year provided they liavo smothered conscience and individuality and have voted with the party on every occasion. A clause among the objects in support of which a political society was recently established reads: "To oppose measures giving undue power of patronage to Minister's, su us to guard sirietly the constitutional prerogatives of Parliament." 'What docs this society think oE a Government which proposes to abuse the Constitution by stuffing the Council —for if nominees are put in it for the express purpose of passing a single measure it is stuffing the Council—or, by taking unto itself tho power of creating temporary annuitants, who will draw Parliamentary salaries in three-year terms, or while they do as Ministers tell thom t The Reform Government will perhaps seek to justify its actions by proclaiming that the end justifies the means, but, if so, what a. sad falling away from tho magnificently conscientious utterances which fell from them while in Opposition, and later when putting their portfolios of office under their arms. It is really heartbreaking to rcnlise -that men, who have consistently held themselves out as the champions of honest and constitutional government, have been led to introduce a measure which ostensibly gives mere patronago to Ministers than any spoil-, sharing party ever dared to propose. The Government proposes to take pow.er to nominate to the Legislative Council a number of members, each member to hold office for three years only, and to be eligible for reappointment. This is a measure of Reform promulgated by those who profess that they want clean government. Well may it be'said that during the last half century political rectitude seems to have assumed the characterise of a gradually disappearing quantity.—l am, 8.8. Wellington, September 17, 1912. .

SHOP CLOSING HOURS AT. HAWERA. Sir,—The attention of the Hawera Tradesmen's Association has been drawn to a letter which appeared in your paper on September 11 relating to tho closing hours of shops in this town. I should like to point out that the closing hours in Hawera were fixed several years sines by requisition and gazetted in conformity with the terms of the Shops and Offices Act, and as far as this association is a ware no.alteration has become necessary under any of the amendments of the Act. Tito Saturday closing hour was made 0.30 p.m. during the summer months as it was considered that a great deal of business was transacted by the. community late on Saturday evenings, when many dairying people come into town quite late to conduct their business. It. might also bo Well to point out that the hour of closing should not affect tho hours of employment of shop-assistants which are definitely fixed at fifty-two per week by the same Act and that the average hours worked by employees of members of this association do not exceed fifty-one. per week, even with the closing hour on Saturday being 3.30 p.m.—l am, etc.,

ROBERT S. SAGE, Secretary Hawera Tradesmen's Association. Hawera, September 18.