PARLIAMENTARY.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3931, 4 August 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Pee Press Association.)

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTIVE

Dr Wallis moved that the time has come when members of the Legislative Council should be elected by the people of the coloiiy.

Mr Hall regretted the question bad not come up at a fuller House, the motion having come on unexpectedly. It would be injudicious to abolish the second chamber. It operated as a wholesome check upon hasty aud incomplete legislation. He did not think that the nomination for life was a good course to pursue. Its tendencies were to create members out of harmony with the times, and the vacancies were too few to enable that state of things to be counteracted. Moreover, the nomination system was liable to be abuse, although he did not mean to say such had been the case. In New Zealand there were many men who had all the requisite abilities for good legislation, and yet they could not make themselves popular enough to secure the popular vote. What he would suggest was that they should be elected by that House, and by ballot. A process of that kind would secure the services of the class referred to by him. He did not suppose that it was intended to press the question to a final issue. Having ventilated the subject, he would suggest to the mover that the motion might in the meantime be withdrawn.

Sir Gr. Grey contended (hat in the success which had attended Provincial Council legislation, they had a guarantee that the business could be carried on efficiently by one chamber. The system was responsible for the hasty and indiscriminate legislation complained of, as they felt that the work wan*sure to be put right in another place. He denounced the practice of members being allowed to resign their seats at pleasure, and yet the Crown was bound to retain these gentlemen for life if they choose to remain. He understood that the Premier gave his constituency to understand that he meant to bring in a bill to reform this chamber, and he called upon him to do so, assuring him that he would have the support of his side of the House.