“OLD MAN’S REST.”

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1928, Page 4

“OLD MAN’S REST.”

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. CRITICISED. FARMERS WANT ELECTIVE SYSTEM. :> WELLINGTON, July 25. ‘‘We are not receiving value for the money spent on the Legislative’ Council,” said ! Air A‘< A. Ross, of Auckland, when moving at to-day’s Conference of the New Zealand Farmers” Union " that the UppeC House should bo elected as' provided 1 by the’ law now on the Statute Book. “We have,” he said, “got to consider the work done by Parliament; We find that- the bulk of it is done by the House of Representatives. It is only on a very lew occasions that the Upper House conies into prominence. It j list records the decisions of the House of Representatives. I believe the Upper House could be made more valuable. It is supposed to be a revising body, lint from the way it is appointed it is very evident that we do not got the class' of men fit for that duty.' It has been said that it is a political old man's rest 1 . I would not go so far as to say that, but some members of flic Upper House have been appointed' after rejection by their constituents.' Othefi appointees laid been no use at all. Tito Legislative Council costs a lot of money. The members are provided with free passes on the railways, and then there is the cost of running the Holtse when in session. The question is, are we getting value for our money ?’* Voices: No. ’ Captain F. Colbeck, of Morrinsville, seconded tiio'resolution. “I feel,” he said, amid laughter, “that I am taking ail action detrimental to my own chances. I have reached that age (Laughter.) The' Upper House is a pleasant refuge in time of trouble. (Laughter.) Beyond that it seems a waste of money.”

Another delegate moved an amendment that the Upper House he abolished. Some of the last nominees, ho said had been men that had been no use to the country at all. A voice: You will got old some day. (Laughter.) Other speakers opposed the'abolition of the Upper lIP use, stating that there was one in nearly every democratic country. One delegate said that if the conference passed the amendment they would be the laughing stock of New Zealand, while a further speaker said that the members of the Upper House were superior to those in tlie elective Chamber. On being put to the’ vote, the amendment was lost, and Mr Ross’s motion was carried.