POLITICAL NOTES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 78, 19 August 1912, Page 4

POLITICAL NOTES.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM. By -Telegraph—Own Correspondent. Wellington, Last Night. An interesting comment on the Legislative Council Reform Hill was made to your representative by Mr. (1. W. Russell to-day. It had been niticip'tted, he said, judging from .the j.pne of the Budgat debate, that the Council would Teject the Bill, and "he considered that it would have a perfect right, if not a duty, to do no if it thought proper. Reform of the, Legislative Council was undoubtedly a, plank in the new (lovernnient's programme, but the Bill in question contained two entirely new proposals—first, to make the Council elective, and secondly to introduce a system of proportional representation which would not apply to the election of mem hers of the other branch of the Legislature. Those proposals had never been considered by the people at a general election, and, that being so, he contended that the Council would be perfectly justified, from a constitutional point of view, if it rejected the measure. Further, he .contended that if the Council repealed the measure the Government would have no right to swamp the Council with new members in order to enable it to carry its proposals. Apart from the fa<ct that the proposal had not been before the country, it must be borne in mind that the passing of the Bill was not a matter of urgency. Unless a dissolution occurred before the usual time,'the pioposed reform could not be put into operation until 1914, and at the least it was quite reasonable to suggest that the Government would not be justified in taking extra measures- until it had been made abundantly clear that the party measures of the Government could not be passed unless further appointments were made. ■ . •

PARLIAMENTARY SALARIES. , MEMBERS WANT AN INCREASE. The movement among members to urge the Government to increase their salaries is growing and, according to the opinion of some of the most representative persons concerned, is in a fair way of' being carried out. The proposal is that the honorarium of Legislative Councillors shall be increased from £2OO to £3OO, and that of members of the House from £3OO to £4OO, that of tile Speaker of the House from ..£SOQ to £900; and that of the .Chairman of Committees of the House from £4OO to £SOO. The proposal to send a deputation to the Prime Minister on the subject, it appears, has been abandoned, and it will probably be found that on the motion to go into Committee of Supply for the consideration of the Estimates, some one will move an intercepting motion in faTor of the proposed increases. If that motion is carried, it will lie a recommendation to the Government to give effect to the proposed reform, and the voting' on that motion will clearly show what the final result will be.

THE EGMOXT SEAT. At an enthusiastic meeting of supporters of the Liberal Party at Eltham on Friday evening it was decided to form a branch of the Liberal League in the electorate, witli headquarters at Elthain. and to nominate an Opposition candidate to contest the Egmont seat next month. The 'final selection of a candidate was-deferred until Monday evening, when it is anticipated that representatives will be present from all parts of the district. Mr. D. Buddo,

who will be visiting Eltham during this week-end, is also expected to be present, and will probably address the meeting. The following gentlemen are freely named as being willing to submit their names to a ballot: Messrs. D. J. Hughes, D. L. A. Astbury, F. Parrott and W. C. Dudley. There was a large, gathering of friends and supporters of Mr. C. .A. Wilkinson at the Eltham railway station, on Friday evening to welcome him home after his [ holiday in America. Miss Pauline Wilkinson is remaining in America for another month. Mr. Lindergreen, the Government organiser, is in Eltham in connection with the forthcoming election. The following private letter from Eltham is published by the Manaia Witness:—"lt is almost certain that the contest will be coulincd to Wilkinson and Dive. The latter made it clear to his friends some months ago that he was full up of politics and would not again, after the ingratitude of last election, put himself at the mercy of the free and independent. Tt is understood that he is angling for Liberal support, and is prepared to modify his Toryism in return. That's one of the objectionable things about polities to-day. There is a great deal of want of political honor, and

you can't trust some of them from day to day. In respect of ability there is no comparison between the men. Wilkinson is cubits above him. He is a man that would do credit to any electorate, and knows exactly where he stands. The other man doesn't know himself where he stands. Put it's a good thing to wait; and T intend to handle my vote very earefullv this time."