THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1892. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2398, 20 August 1892, Page 2

THE Temuka Leader. SATURDAY, AUGUST 20, 1892. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wk feel that we have frequently done an injustice to the Government in finding fault with their action with regard to the Legislative Council. 'The whole thing has come out. now, and it appears to us that any one who will look dispassionately on the subject will agree that the Government have acted moderately and discreetly throughout. The circumstances in connection with the Council are well known. After the late Government were defeated at the last general election, and when the Governor had no right to accept their advice, Lord Onslow appointed seven new members to the Council. Only for that step no difficulty would have arisen. Ol course, the object the Conservatives had in view was to prevent Legislative effect being given to the will of the people, and when the new Government proceeded with their work they found that the Council rejected and mutilated their policy measures. There were then forty-eight members in the Council, and of these the Government could only rely on four besides Sir Patrick Buckley. The Government demanded fair representation in the Council, but Lord Onslow refused to give them more than eight new members. The Government demanded twelve new members, and the matter was allowed to stand over until the new Governor arrived. We stated at the time that Lord Onslow was guilty of a very mean action in leaving such an heirloom to his successor. As he was the cause of the trouble in appointing the former, he ought to have rectified it by satisfying the very reasonable demand of the Government.

The moment Lord Glasgow arrived the Government renewed their advice to appoint twelve new Councillors, but the Governor would not appoint more than nine. In the meantime, one member had died and one had resigned, and since Lord Glasgow’s arrival, another death and another resignation have taken place. Lord Onslow ottered to appoint eight, and four vacancies have occurred since, and all the Government have asked Lord Glasgow to do is to appoint the eight ottered by Lord Onslow, and fill in the vacancies which have since occurred. Was there ever a more reasonable request? Yet Lord Glasgow has refused to do this, and the whole question has now been submitted to the Home Government. A cablegram from London, yesterday morning, informs us that it is unlikely the Home office will veto Lord Glasgow’s action. What consummate impudence? A new Liberal Government is in the course of formation in England ; the despatches covering all the information connected with the question have scarcely left Xew Zealand yet, and, notwithstanding tins, the Agent of the Tress Association presumes to anticipate the verdict of the Home Office. Who can believe Home cablegrams after this ?

8o far as we can see Lord Glasgow lias destroyed his own career as a Governor. He is evidently a man devoid of tact and ability, and the result of his conduct is a shock to the loyalty of people in this colony. This is borne out by the division on the Elective Governor Hill last Thursday night. That measure has had hitherto very little countenence, but we find now that it was lost only by a majority of one. For our part we have been most strenuously opposed to the Elective Governor proposal, but owing to the conduct of Lord Onslow and Lord Glasgow, we unhesitatingly give in our adhesion to it. We see nothing else for it, when a man like Lord Glasgow comes in here, and without the slightest knowledge ot anything, presumes to dictate to the veteran politicians of the Colony what is. or is not the best course to adopt. Lord Glasgow will find that at the next election this question of Elective Governor will gain strength, and that he will have the very doubtful honor of losening the bonds which bind this colony to Great Britain. As the matter stands we are afraid the result will be serious. It may possibly lead to a General Election, and that means, we believe, an expense to the country of sowething like :b I OtMMJU. The Opposition inean to make the most of it. There is to be a great debate on the subject next week, and meantime it is impossible to forsee the conseques. It will certainly be a great misfortune if, when we are settling down now, we are pace more plung.ul in the throes of a General Election, with all its disturbing 'influences, and this because our Governor would not fill in tjje vacancies caused in the Council. THE GOVERNOR AND GOVERNMENT. “Tilt; Government ought to have resigned when the Governor refused their advice,” is now the charge the Opposition is miking against the Government..

iupl we may say t!;al S;r (jeorge Grey j favours ibis opinion, Todd. (be great authority on these questions says the Government ought not to have resigned. and the question the public have to consider is Who is right and who is wrong, Todd is a great authority ■ on constitutional usuages • Ids brook is regarded as a guide in sucli cases. When Todd’s book was written such a thing as a dispute between the Governor and Government of New Zealand was not dreamt of; it was not written purposely to suit either side, and consequently we may take the opinion expressed therein as perfectly impartial. On the other hand v/ho ai’e those who saj the

Government ought to have resigned? .Simply the people who want to step into their seats. Are we to take the dictum of the Opposition in preference to a recognised, and relied on authority? That is just the point.. We say that a standard authority is a preferable guide, to the interested opinions of men scrambling to get into power, and we hold, therefore, that Government are perfectly right in the course they have taken. But besides being right, they acted judiciously in not putting the country to the expense of a general election, and causing much mischief ihereby. It may be said that their resignation would not involve a dissolution, but of course nothing else could be possible under the circumstances. The moment Mr liolleston took office, he would have been ousted by a no confidence motion, and lie then would have had .to go to the country. There was, therefore, no alternative except a general election, and we think the Government have acted wisely in not putting the country to such an expense. But of course the Opposition will take advantage of anything to embarrass the Government without much regard as to consequence. Still we are of opinion that the country, as a fwhole, will approve of the moderate and sensible action taken by the Ministry under very trying circumstances, and will ratify their iction whenever the opportunity offers itself.