POLITICAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2140, 20 December 1890, Page 3

POLITICAL.

Wblmngtot, Dec. 18At the request of the Governor, Mr Ballance has fo; warded his reasons for protesting against appointments to the Legislative Council, in which be states that the general election placed the Minatory in a minority, ascertainable from declarations of the successful candidates, and this deprived Ministers of the right to advise the Governor to perfom bo important an act as the making of appointments to the Couucil. Mr Ballance quotes authorities in support of his oontention, and goeß en to say that if it be alleged that there is no certaioity about the state of parties, it is Buffieent to reply that the Ministry is not supported by a majority, and that advice has been given to convene Parliament at an exceptional time to find a Ministiy that Bhall be supported by a m»jority. Should, therefore, appointments be made on the advice of a Premier not predominant, the effect would be to create that hostility at starting referred to by the authority quoted and thwart and obstruct the advisers to be summoned by the Governor to succeed those who had oeased to represent the publio or the popular sentiment. Mr Ballance also brings under the Governor's consideration thit one of j the political issues raised in the recent election was reform of the Legislative Council. The leader of the Opposition proposed to abolish the life tenure of Councillors and in all future appointments subs'itute appoint- j ments for seven years. This reform , would probably be submitted in one of the earliest measures introduced by any Ministry formed from the Opposition, and it appears to Mr Ballance that it would jeopardise any such measure to appoint men for life whose opinioos migLt be hostile to this chaogp. He mentions th»t the Piemier in 1887 gave an assuranoe from the Ministerial benches that no more nominations would be recommended to the Council until! their number was reduced to one-half that of the House of Representatives as fixed under the Bill then passing through the legislature. The number of members in the Council is still in excess of this proportion. In conclusion Mr Ballance submitted for the Governor's consideration that appointments to the Council cannot be justified on any grourjds of urgency before the meeting of Parliament, unless il be an apprehension that it woold then be no longer possible to recommend them, but that such fear, expressed or implied, is d» reason likely to commend itself to the Governor. j

It is improbarb'e that the Government will decide un Legislative Council appointments this month.

Mr HialophasHot yet sent in his formal resignation. A Gazette was issued this afternoon summoning Parliament for 2.30 p.m. on Friday, January 23rd.