The Fielding Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1885. The Legislative Council

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 4, 20 June 1885, Page 2

The Fielding Star. SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1885. The Legislative Council

The Act introduced by the Hon. Mr Buckley to alter the mode of making future appointments of members to the Legislative Council, and to regulate ! vacancies therein, aro now before us. Clause 3 provides — " From and after the passing of this Act, every person who shall be appointed member of the Legislative Council shall hold his seat therein for ten years, to be reckoned from the date of the instrument of his appointment, and no longer. Nothing in this section contained shall apply to any member of the said Council holding office therein on the day of the passing of this Act." Clause 7 provides that " Every member whose seat has become vacant shall be eligible for reappointment to the Council." These are the most important points contained in the bill. As regards clause 3, we do not think it any great improvement on the condition of the Legislative Council as it now stands, and although the Ministers have •flooded the Council with new members, we do not expect to see it carried on the voices. The bait held out to members that they are secure in their positions for life, under certain conditions of good behaviour, may be tempting, but the anomaly of having two classes in the Council at one time may suggest itself to the older legislators, and influence them in rejecting this clause. We have no statistics on this point to guide us, or we might make some comments as to whether the whole of the members of the present Council will die out or resign within a given period. Be that as it may, we do not think the deliberations of thismost august body would be much facilitated by the introduction of members whose position was limited to a known period, among those who hold the same nominal rank until death or resignation. It would have been much better to have, at one fell swoop, made the term equal for all, if such were possible, wihout interfering with the vested rights which are given to life members. Even this difficulty might be met by paying the present salaries as pensions when members retired by effluxion of time. Clause 7we do not approve of at all, as it could be, and therefore would be, abused by every Ministry in its turn. No member should be eligible for re-appointment until at least three years after his seat has become vacant. This would effectually guard against undue influence being brought to bear on members whose term was nearing its close. A Bill, which is intended to effect both Houses, entitled The Disqualification Act 1878 Amendment Act 1885, provides that " No person who at any time has been or may be appointed to the rank of Commander of the Colonial Forces in the colony, and who shall receive remuneration for his servicss as such, shall be thereby disqualified from being or continuing to be a member of either Eouse of the General Assembly, anything* contained in 'The Disqualification Act, 1878,' notwithstanding. Strong objection can be raised against this, because a member coujdbe Minister of Defence and Commander of the Forces at the same time, which would be almost too much power to entrust to one man, even with representative Governmont. A member of the Lower House, or of the Legislative Assembly, receiving such an appointment, the resignation of his seat should be imperative. If both these Bills are thrown out, the colony will lose nothing, while if they are accepted the benefits, if any, are doubtful.