LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 387, 24 July 1889, Page 5

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

Most of the afternoon of yesterday was occupied in the Upper Chamber with the adjourned debate on the Legislative Council Bill. The discussion wa& resumed by Mr 01i\ er. who denied that the necessity for any reform of the Chamber existed, inasmuch as members in fact had performed their work satisfactorily. It was all nonsense to suppose that any Government would flood their number for the purpose of furthering: their own ends. He maintained that an independent upper Chamber was absolutely necessai'y for the good government of the country, and said that if it could be proved that in the past the Council were not in sympathy with the people, probably some change as indicated by the Attorney-General might be advantageous, but he emphatically denied that this was so. He hoped the Bill would be rejected. The Hon. Mr Reynolds thought the time had now armed for a reform of the Council, and expressed the opinion that many of the appointments to it were in no way creditable to the Ministry of the day. A change in its constitution was called for both by the people and the press of the colony. The Hon. Mr Pbardzan admitted there were many objectionable clauses in the Bill, but as he considered the proposals of the Government demanded respectful thought he supported its second reading. Tfie Hon. Mr Scotland, in supporting the second reading, raised a laugh by declaring that if an aneel came from Heaven and framed a Bill ft would be kicked out by a majority of the Council, who considered themselves the acme of perfection in the duection of intelligence. He would vote for the motion in expectation of the measure being severely criticised in Committee. Dr, Pollen saw no reason for alteiing the Council, and moved that the Bill be lead a second time that day six months. The measure was also opposed by Hons. Messrs Wilson, Walker and Peacock, and the adjournment of the debate till to day wa& then agreed upon.