LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1788, 28 June 1913, Page 4

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS.

Tiik attitude of the Legislative Counril last year towards the Bill introduced by tho Government to rofonn its constitution, and ruakc it an oloctivo body, has forced tho

Government to make several appointments with a view to strengthening its hand in that Chamber. Of the five gentlemen whoso names wore announced yesterday as having accepted calls to the Legislative Council, four are well known in public life, while tho fifth, Mil. W. *G. Niciiolls, who represents the Native race, also can lay claim to some public service. Mr. Niciioli.s is said to be well-qualified to voice the views of the Natives, and it is anticipated ■ that his addition to the ranks of tho Legislative Council will prove of considerable help to that body ill dealing with matters affecting the interests of the Native population. In selecting tho other nominees, the Government will no doubt be accused in three eases at least of rewarding party loyalty. _ This, perhaps, is true to a certain extent. The nominative system which has filled the Legislative Council with the nominees of the Continuous Ministry has compelled the Massey Government to turn mainly to men on its own side in politics when making tho appointments. It i 6 tho plain duty of tho Government, under existing conditions, to take such_ steps as will ensure that its legislative proposals receive due consideration in the Upper Chamber, and if the appointments now made are not sufficient to enable tho Government to give effect to its policy proposals, further calls will have to be made. But while the Government was fully justified in making the appointments on tho grounds stated, we are confident that throughout the country, generally it will be further recognised that the selection made is more than justified by the personal qualifications of the gentlemen chosen, and that the Council will be strengthened, and its usefulness increased, by the addition to its ranks of Sir William Russell, Mr. John Duthie, and Mr. C. A. C. Hardy. It is unnecessary to dwell on tho long and honourable political carcer of Sir William Russell, his wido knowledge of affairs and high sense of duty. No one, we think, will question that his acceptance of a seat in tho Legislative Council is a matter for congratulation. Nor need we enumerate the many qualities which have,won for Mr. Duthie the respect and esteem, not only of his friends, but of his opponents in public .life. Mr. Dutiiie has, a lengthy _ record of service,_ not only in Parliament, but in various other I public offices, and is eminently suited to fill a place in a revising Chamber, where his outspokenness, his independence of thought, and his keenness as a critic, backed by his wide experience, public spiritedness, and, soundness of judgment, should enable him to render valued service. Mr. .Hardy has been more _ recently before the public as an activo politician in the House of Representatives, and also has had a valuable experience on local bodies of various kinds. As to tho fifth nominee, Mr. Earnshaw, he. some years ago was one of the 'shining lights of Labour, and sat in the House of Representatives as a Labour member. Ho was an earnest, free-spoken, and downright advocate of fair play for tho employee, and presumably he has not materially changed his views_ on industrial questions. His appointment will mean the addition of a vigorous personality to tho ranks of the Councjl. It will depend very largely on his own tact and judgment whether he becomes an influence there or merely a talker, like one or two of the little group who now profess to voico the' view of Labour in the Upper Chamber.