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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5524, 10 December 1878, Page 2

Before the grave has closed over the late Speaker of the Legislative Council, the Honorable Sir John L. C. Richardson, speculation is rife as to his successor in office. Some mis. apprehension exists apparently as to the mode of appointment to the Speakership of the Legislative Council. In the House of Repre- , sentotives the Speaker is elected by the memibers, and their choice, being confirmed by the Governor, is valid and effectual. The Speaker of the Legislative Council is not elected by the members ; he is appointed by the Crown, and the place is in the patronage of the Government. Clause 38 of the Constitution Act runs as follows:—“The Governor shall have power and authority from time to time to appoint one member of the said Legislative Council to be Speaker of such Council, and to remove him and appoint another in his stead.” We do not venture to speculate as to the manner in which his Excellency the Governor may be advised to use his power in tho present instance. We have been warned that the Premier proposes to fight the Council next year, and there are mysterious whispers of changes to he effected in the constitution of that Chamber ,by tho transfusion of party spirit in order to take from it tho character for moderation and impartiality which it has always been tho desire of its members to maintain. Our contemporary, the Timara Herald, usually well informed as to the purposes of the present Government, announced, a day or two ago, in discussing the chances of probable vacancies in the House of Representatives —that Mr. Dignan, member for Auckland City West, and Mr. Wood, member for Mataura, are to be elevated to the Upper House. Our contemporary is severe upon “Infinite Wisdom,” a pet name, we believe, for the representative of tho electors of Mataura, and concludes a long and pungent article with these words :—“ We recognise that, in speculating thus upon the contemplated appointments to tho Legislative Council, wo are somewhat forestalling events. It is quite possible that Colonel Whitmore will feel it his duty to draw the Hue at ‘lnfinite Wisdom,’ and will at length pluck up courage to protest against the Chamber to which he belongs being made a laughing - stock Appointments that have already been made must have been gall and wormwood to the Colonial Secretary ; and we should not bo at all surprised if he were now to put his foot down firmly, and give the Premier his choice between swamping the Legislative Connell with imbeciles, and keeping his Cabinet together.” We fear that the patronage will bo used either to purchase party support in the future, or to reward services already rendered for party purposes, and that consideration tor the Council may he subordinated to the political need of tho hour.