Legislative Council Appointments.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 224, 28 September 1901, Page 1

Legislative Council Appointments.

When the outward correspondence was being read at the County Council meeting yesterday, reference was made by the Chairman to the reply of the Council to the request of the Chamber of Commerce that the name of a gentleman should be suggested for nomination to the Legislative Council. Mr Macfarlane stated that the Premier had gone back on Mr Carroll in regard to this matter. A question had been asked in the House, and the Government denied having taken this form of electing members to the Upper House. Cr Jex-Blake: I do not see how that can be, for the Government wrote to us a year ago suggesting that we should nominate somebody. The Chairman: I think you are mistaken. Cr Jex-Blake: I beg your pardon. If the minutes are referred to you will find that the matter was brought up by Cr King and tbe Government replied as I have stated. Cr Tombleson : It is an altogether unheard of thing. Cr Graham : I think you are mistaken, Cr Jex-Blake. Cr Jex-Blake: I am as certain of it as I am that I am sitting in this chair. .The Clerk read from the minutes of June 30th, 1890, when a request had been made to the Government for the East Coast to be represented in the Council, and also the stereotyped reply that the matter would be considered by the Government. ' Cr Jex-Blake maintained that there was still another letter. The Chairman said that the matter was followed up by Mr Carroll’s promise. He suggested the Council should take no further steps. Cr Jex-Blake thought the Council should stand by Mr Carroll, who was doing all he could for the district. They should let Mr Carroll know that the Government had themselves asked for names. He did not think that the Council should allow Mr Carroll to be snubbed in the manner he had been. The Chairman : Mr Carroll went the wrong way about this matter, and was apparently acting on his own. He was usurping the functions of the Premier and the Cabinet in attempting to do an unconstitutional thing. After further discussion, it was decided to allow matters to remain as at present.