THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 98, 25 May 1900, Page 2

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I observe your contemporaries at Inglewood aud Stratford hive been speculating as to whom would fall the honour of being ctlied to the Upper Ileus.) in tho oveufc of athiid member i buiug given a scat to represent tho provincial disSiic!; in tho uppsr branch of the legislature. No doubt anothm member is required to place us on a levoi with tho population basi3 of the colony. To do justice to a district which hadone so much for the Liberal causa, h gentlemaD from the Liberal ranks should be chosen who is known to ba a firm and staunch supporter of Liberal progressive measures cf social reform, We can't afford to halt; having put our hand to tho plough wo mu -t presa forward, fur many soei.tl reforms are still needed in the interest of that great body—'she People. Amongst a number whose claims have boon advocated by the local press, I notice three of them are opponents of the present Government Ooe gentleman is mentioned thus: —"ln the event of achar;ge in the Premiership, it is rumoured Mr. Oliver Samuel will probably be offered a seat in tho Legislative Council." (S?.e Inglewood Itecord of May lDth.) Ln my opinion the rumour is simply audacious and absurd. What claim has Mr. Samuels to any such distinction fiom the great Liberal and progressive party of this colony ? None whatever. Great Scott! does the secret agent of the Now Plymouth Tammany think if the Hon. J. G. Ward in the course of events becomes Prime Minister, lm would abuse his position to reward Mr. Samvol for some services of a personal nature he may have previously rendered to him, thereby- t'lrnin" his back on the many able meu iu the Liberal ranks tint are ablo to fill the position with credit to themselves and honour to the colony? Would that astute Minister, whose policy is of a progressive nature in social reform, select as one of the revisera of the legislation in the Lower Chamber a Tory of the most virulent typa, whos3 machinations against the Liberal cause and the present Government has been of an order worthy of his known professional ability ? My long experience of Mr. Samuel's political caroer proves to me he is one of the bitterest enemies progressive social democracy has in this district. Mr. Samuel in the Upper House, his political intrigues would soon become apparent in barring as much as possible all progressive social reform initiated in the Lowor Chamber. Calling Mr. Samuel to the Uppar House in (ho present political state of the colony would be an error. Wo want no malign iniiuenca there. No, my fellow democrats and friends of liber),y. tho man of tho iron heol will be doomed to disappointment.—l am, etc,, A Voice fhom tee People.