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Hokitika Guardian, 3 July 1917, Page 2

Although ther c was a pause aiul a silence which could be felt at the meeting of the County Council yesterday when th e suggestion came forward to co-operate with other public bodies in urging Government to appoint a representative for the district to the Legislative Council, the members soon took up the matter and did the right thing in acquiescing to the request before tb© meeting. Mr Clifton was the first to mov 0 in the matter, and he said the right thing about th 6 necessity for a • Westland representative. The earlier discussions of th 0 Council, whereat it was shown there was some misunderstanding with the Minister and one of his departments, was

reason enough to 'Lave an intermediary to see that justice was done, and that tho district should not suiter because of any private pique on the part of any individual. For this reason alone very good servje e could be dono by a representative, who in the capacity in which h e would be, would have the right to se 0 that matters wore set forth plainly and ttiatthe people or .the d/istrict did not suffer because of any simple misunderstanding capable of ready adjustment by timely interposition. There are many matters pertaining t° the welfare of tho district which, under the care of a representative mooting Ministers frequently at Wellington could be readily adjusted without lengthy, and often inconclusive, correspondence, and certainly with the avoidance of much protracted delay.

Arncros of the need of recruiting for the ranks of tli ( , Upper House, a press correspondent mentions that that rugust assemblge is now down to zero, There is something pathetic, he says, about tho Legislative Council nowadays. In its. palmy days fifty-five members took part in its proceedings but to-day tho actual number present was an unlucky thirteen so heavy has been the reduction in the roll owing to death and the numerous retirements du 0 to offluxionVf time. Eleven members have ceased to hold office within the past two years, but some accession of strength is expected; within a few weeks. Tho Government waited the return of the leaders before making- nominations t,o the Council, ana owing to pressur 0 of other work there has been no meeting of the complete Cabinet since, Mr. Massey and Sir Josoph Ward returned. It is expected that a number of ex-members will he re-appointed together with half a dozen fresh memboi's thus making Die' Coucil a more live and efficient body than it is at tho opening of the session. It will bo seen that it is proposed to appoint some half a do/A-n «e» members. The West Coast should i-... tainly be included in this now representation. It is several years nmv since tho previous representatives »i th Grey and Westland distriots in the Tlppor House passed away, and it has boon an injustice to the place that the Government made no effort to fill the vacancies. W 0 n°t aware that any other districts in the Dominion have been treated similarly, and it 5s to he hoped that now the Ministry is roinindod of the wrong don 0 they will, without further delay, take steps to make amends, and so help t<> give a square deal all round.