MR OLLIVER ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 138, 11 June 1881, Page 1

MR OLLIVER ON THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The followiog in an extract from Mr Olliver's recent speech to his constituents : — Another measure which remains to be adopted is a reform ofthe Legislative Council. You will have learned from the Premier's speech at Lees ton last week that the subject has occupied the attention of the Government, and that a proposal will be laid on the table of the Ilouse during the coming sesssion which, if not carried into law, wili at any rate bo before the public, and which I hope, at no distant date, will becomo law. I think we aro all of opinion — most of us, at any rate, hold the opinion— that a second Chamber is an absolute necessity. — (Applause.) My experience in the House of Representatives tells me that very frequently the work of that House is very slipshod, is very imperfect. The manner in which it is gone through by members is characterised by hasto ; sometimes by inattention ; sometimes by pique ; sometimes by party feeling ; so that very frequently measures are passed whicli are not fit to take a place on the statute-book of the Colony.— (Applause,) The Colony is very much indebted frequently to the members ot lhe. Council for licking these Acts into shape. The Council is useful, moreover, as a check on hasty legislation. But Ido not think I need argue fat great length in favor of the second Chamber, for I believe pretty nearly all of us recognise the need for that Chamber.— (Applause.) If in the future we could confidently rely on the relation between the Council aud the House of Representatives being as harmonious as it has in the past, then I think there would be little need for proposing a reform in the constitution of the Second Chamber. But we are warned by the experience of the other colonies. During the last few years wo havo seen the two Chambers in conflict more than once in Victoria. We have seen the work of legislation stopped and everything brought to a standstill — to what is called a "deadlock." Now, it is hardly to be expected we shall continue year after year to escape these dangers, and I think therefore it is a wise step to provide in time against the occurrence of such events; and I must say that I doubt whether under a reformed order of things the Couucils will be composed of better men than compose it at presen; but at present it is cpen to the objection which I have just stated, and at any rate the measure which Mr Hall has foreshadowed is in the direction of reform and good government.

The Times says : — " The idea of freeing twenty millions of peasants from the abitrary rule of irresponsible masters, many of wiiom were unworthy to possess authority of any kind, was thoroughly in accordance with the late Czar's humane, generous instincts, and instances of cruelty and misrule, whicli were officially reported to him or accidentally came to his knowledge made him impatient to see the evil swept away. There were, however, serious difficulties in the .way. Alexander 11. had very little of the requisite special knowledge, and had to restrict himself to choosing between the measures recommended to him. It was universally admitted that the peasants should not be ejected from their homes, though their homesteads belonged legally to the proprietors ; but there was great diversity of opinion as to how much land they should in future enjoy, by what tenure they should in future hold it, and how the patriarchal, undefined authority of the landlords should be replaced. The main point at issuo was whether the serfs should become agricultural laboi^ers dependent economically and administratively on the landlords, or should be transformed into a class of independent communal proprietors. The Emperor gave his support to the latter proposal, and the Russian peasantry acquired privileges such as are enjoyed by no other peasantry in Europe. There still remained a host of minor questions all of which were submitted for Imperial decision. His Majesty examined each of them separately and carefully, and never decided without consulting both parties. On March 3, 1861, the law received the Imperial signature, and during the next two years its numerous provisions wero put into execution by lauded proprtetors nws by .the: i -*w