THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 49, 22 October 1912, Page 4

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wellingtou’iS “Evening Post” thus scathingly deals with the Legislative Council’s recent ,rejection of the Government’s Council reform measure ; “In its resistance to the Government’s proposals for its reform the Legislative Council continues to supply the reformer with fresh arguments. From the very outset the policy of the Council has played right into the hands of its enemies, but this last blunder is the worst of all. First the Council, by giving the Government’s Legislative Council Elections Bill a second reading, conceded that some substantial reform of its constitution was necessary. It then affirmed that by this vote it had accepted the elective principle, but by the same resolution it declared that the Bill should stand over till next session in order to give the electors a chance of considering it. Much was said during both debates of the lack of any clear expression of public opinion and of any lead from the popular Chamber. Since then the House has declared by 39 votes to 17 for the direct election of tlie Council by the people. It has also carried on the voices a Bill reducing the term of future appointments to the Council from seven years to three, ,the declared object of the measure being to enable the Government to appoint Councillors enough to carry its reform scheme with the least possible friction and inconvenience. That Bill the Council has now rejected by 21 votes to 13. We think that the Government is to lie congratulated upon the result. It has shown an admirable combination of firmness and forebearance so far, but further forbearance would bo interpreted as weakness. The necessary steps should be promptly taken to overcome the contumacious opposition of an irresponsible, unrepresentative, and singularly unintelligent body to a necessary measure for its own reform. The Government will not have the slightest difficulty in finding a dozen—or, if the occasion demanded it, two dozen—men of higher capacity and public standing than the majority of the present Council who are determined to block reform. His Excellency should know the names of a sufficient number with as little delay as possible. When the appointments have been made the Councillors who have made such a step necessary will be able to see their own folly in the same clear light in which it already appears to everybody else.”