LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 5 July 1929, Page 3

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

AT FULL STRENGTH

NQ APPOINTMENTS PENDING

"WELLINGTON, July 3

It was generally expected that tic new-Government would make some appointments to the Legislative Council, but the session lias opened, and there is no sign of a decision. The fact that tins period has been reached without the appearance of (fresh faces in the Council is fairly conclusive evidence that Sir Joseph Ward is practising his expressed opinion that the Council should be about half the strength of the elected Chamber,, which numbers eighty, while the Council at present, slightly exceeds the Prime Minister’s idea of its proper quota.

There is no statutory limit to the number of Legislative Councillors, but successive Governments have adhered fairly close to the proportion mentioned, and it is generally conceded in the lobbies that the Government docs not intend to make further appointments.

At present Councillors are norpinatpd for a five-year, term, and it 'happens that no reappointments become dqe this year. Sir Heaton Rhodes, the lion. George Witty, and "the Hen. L. M; lsitt-wore appointed by the Co tes Government in November, 1925, and will be the‘first to reach the end of their term. There was a subsequent batch of appointments in June, 1925, of the Hons. C. J. Carripgton, J. A. Hanan, and T. S. Weston, while Sir Robert Stout, on retiring ' from the position off Chief Justice, became a Councillor in September, • 1926, and S-ir James Allen, having served as High Commissioner, was appointed to the Council on his return to the Domini n in June, 1927. The only appointment by thy present Government is tliat of Mr T. Iv. Sidey, who joined the now. Ministry and became leadev of the Upper House last December. Possibly tlie Government might have appointed to the Council two or thi'ee former supporters who did not contest seats at the last general election, but its chief difficulty is the number of those with exceedingly good claims to consideration, therefore, Sir Jose oh Ward evidently is waiting patiently for an opportunity to arrive when it will be possible, without destroying the balance between the two Houses, to make a substantial number of new Legislative Councillors.