WELLINGTON NOTES.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1920, Page 4

WELLINGTON NOTES.

(Our Special Correspondent)

ELECTIVE UPPER HOUSE

LEGISLATION TO BE REVIEWED.

WELLINGTON, March 10.

The Prime Minister let it be known some time ago that he had in contemplation the review of the legislation passed six years ago by which the Upper House was to become by instalments fully elective and entirely free from ministerial control. Now he is mentioning the matter again in his interviews with the representatives of the Press probably with a view to preparing the public for a material modification of "his original scheme. The Act of 1914 provided for twenty-four members, fourteen from the North Island and ten from the South Island, being elected to the Council at the first general election after the end of the year 1915, for a term extending from the date of election till the dissolution or expiry of the Parliament next after tlie expiration of five years. At subsequent elections twenty members were to be elected, divided between the two islands on a population basis. Each island was to be divided into two constituencies, and tlie system of election was to be tlie single transferable vote which gives proportional representation. HASTY LEGISLATION. It is to be feared that when the legislation of 1914 went through Parliament neither the Council nor the House had examined its provisions very closely. Sir Francis Bell, • the leader of the nominated Chamber, had made a very industrious study of the whole subject and lie expounded , the provisions of the Bill he introduced with characteristic ability. But. the subject appeared to be somewhat above the heads of the great majority of the councillors, and but for a very able criticism of the measure by the Hon 0. Samuel, there was little to show that Sir Francis had made himself understood by any of them. In the House the Bill was mainly the subject of a party contention in which the Reformers extolled Ministers for their courageous handling of a difficult subject and the Liberals denounced them for entrenching themselves behind the remnant of their own nominees. SECOND THOUGHTS.

Perhaps it is just as well the acceptance of the party truce and tlie formation of the National Government prevented the Act into operation as it passed on to the Statute Book. At any rate, Mr Massey has realised in the interval that a Council elected on a broader franchise than the other branch of the Legislature and freed from ministerial control might become a very grave menace to what have seventy years been regarded as the prerogatives of the House. Whether or not he also has regretted tlie surrender of tlie “country quota” in the case of the Upper House there is no authority for saying, but it is well known that many of his most influential supporters have made strong representation to him .on this point. The original Bill constitutes a more democratic Second Chamber than any other existing within the British Empire, and many of tfie Prime Minister’s friends regard it on this account with a goo« ueal of alarm. PROBABLE AMENDMENTS. It is significant of the prevailing apathy concerning everything connected with politics at the present time that there is scarcely any speculation as to the amendments of the constitution of tlie Council Mr Massey has in mind. He lias hinted at the desirability of the Ministry retaining power to make a certain number or appointments, but of course a retraction of this kind would mean the abandonment of tlie main principle of the original measure. An elective Council was the popular cry with which the Reformers appealed to the constituencies —in all good faith, no doubt—and to go back on this cry now when its realisation is actually on the Statute Book, would be apt to create a good deal of misunderstanding and, perhaps, to provoke some resentment. Tlie country quota cannot be preserved in constituencies as large ns half an island and a reduction in the size of the constituencies would be another perilous experiment. On this point, at least, tlie Prime Minister may be expected to stdnd firm.