THE Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1891. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2296, 22 December 1891, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1891. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

OtfE of the most difficult subjects which the present Government will have to deal with is the Legislative Council. The number of members in the Legislative Council this time last year was 39, but the Atkinsonians made six fresh appointments just as they were going out of office, and this raised its numerical strength to 45. Since then five members died, and one member lost hie seat, and thus the Council is exactly in the position it was 12 months ago. There are now 39 members in the Legislative Council, five of whom are supporters of the present Government, and 34 uncompromising opponents. It. is evident therefore, that the Government are greatly handicapped by being so weak in the Council, and that they must make fresh appointments in order to carry their measures. But the question is how many will they be able to appoint ? There cannot be any objection at any rate to fill the six vacant seats in the council; no one can object to that. If a dead Gqyernment had a right to appoint six members I*2 months ago, the least a live Government may be allowed to do is to fill the vacancy which have since occured. But this would not give the Government a majority in the Council, they would only have'll supporters against 34 opponents, and they would be still unabje to carry their measures. Sir George Grey says that it will be necessary for the Government to appoint 20 new Councillors, to enable them to carry out their measures, and looking at the state of parties it appears to us he is right. Still we do not think that there is any possibility of 20 new —"Tieillors being appointed; we do not believe "* "«mber, and sanction to such a largo - consequently the Government will uu u it very difficult to so arrange that they J will be able to carry their measures '

hrough the Upper House. One thing is in avor of the Government; a large number of the Councillors are very old, and very feeble ; and do not attend very regularly. , One third of them is generally absent, and of this the Government can take advantage when they want to carry their measures. Let the Government select good speakei's for the council; men who can talk against time, when required; men who can sit up all night, and carry measures when the old men are in bed. More than half the Council are feeble old men, who could not outlive a stonewall, and would very soon have to give in, if all night sittings were adopted. The Government will not be able to get a sufficient number into the Council to carry their measures, but if they adopt this suggestion they will succeed in spite of the majority being against them. Another matter to which the Government must give attention when making these appointments is more equal representation of the various districts. For instance Canterbury with her population of 133,000 persons has only five representatives in the Council, while Wellington with a population of only 85,000, has 8 members. This is unfair, and as Canterbury is the most liberal part of the Colony now, we hope the Government will deal liberally with it when making the appointments.