THE UPP.ER HOUSE REFORM.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1837, 25 August 1913, Page 4

THE UPP.ER HOUSE REFORM.

Sir, —The cry for reform of the Upper Houso seems to have caught on. ' As at the present timo wo have all sorts of opinions; but what is tho nso of chango for tho sako of change? Personally, I consider there, is no need for Mr. Massey to hurry with tho proposed policy of tho Government. Timo enough to find a way for reform of the "Upper Houso when bo finds his policy measures blocked, but I havo not seen any such obstruction yet. With all its faults, it- seems to be a better revising Chamber than an elective .Houso. If you havo two elective Houses appealing to tho electors of any country sooner or later there is likely to 'bo a conflict. Then wo have that fad held out, namely, tho "proportional representation." It does not seom clear in tho present state of polities how this is going to work out. You can lead a horso to tho water, but you caai't make him drinky so. with this proposed preferenco vote. There can be no preferenco voto vote for the man that takes politics seriously. -He supports tho men of his clioicc, and let every other do tho samo. If electors aro tb bo compelled to cxerciso preference' votes, well,' personally, I 'Would rather sacrifice my voto altogether than cast a. voto for a man Ido not want. What with tho second ballot, preference voto, and proportional representation, to my mind it is prostituting politics. 'Any man .with half an eye could -see that in reality there aro only two parties in politics , in Now Zealand at the present time. Tho present, party in power and their followers and all tho other parties, no matter .what namp they go by, in Opposition. The sioonor Mr. -Massey drives them into two camps tlm hotter. Your correspondent "Elector" seems to have a 'peculiar idea of politics. Ho says "that this _ proposed reform of tho Upper Houso is a question affecting the fundamental principles of government." I should liko to know in what way. Docs he not know that tho present House, as constituted, is tlio constitutional ostabr. lishment, and .shall remain go until it (tho Constitution): is amended. "Elector" quotes the. lato Mr. S'crldon and the proposed method to let tho Upper Houso die a natural death. Does "Elector" think ftlie lato Mr. Seddon was sincere in his remarks, or would it havo; the desired cffcct? I question it. very much. If, for instance, this. was.-,the caso, does he .think that any as representative of tho King, Would affix his signature to any legislation', passed without it being endorsed by tho Upper House? "Elector" must understand that we havo not got tho Parliament Act in New Zealand yet. I consider there has been too much mud cast at tho Upper Houso; it has been a sort, of "Aunt Sally" for, some short-sighted politicians, when a lot of it should havo found its way to another Chamber., Personally, I consider the present party should consider their position on tho reform of tlio Upper Houso. There can be worse things than an honourable retreat- for a party. ' If we aro to havo an elective Upper House, then I think that tho Lower House should bo tlio electors.—l am, etc.. THOS. M. MILLIGAN.