The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1883.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4513, 22 June 1883, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. FRIDAY, JUNE 22, 1883.

One of those questions which must sooner or later be dealt with in a most decisive way, i« the reform ( of the Legislative Council. Si^ns have been given that a movement in such a direction is likely to be made during the present session, and as a natural consequence some of the fossils who ornament, our Upper House for an hour or two during each sitting day of Parliament are up in arms, with a fear that their snug retroat will be either abolished, or its constitution so altered that they will be precluded' from interfering with the business of the colony. Amongst the political • ancient dames who have spoken on the subject, and showed that they would resist such a change, was the worthy Colonel Brett, who once almost tried to get an Act of Parliament passed to force policemen to salute him, and others equally successful as legislators ; but llio ability of Lhoso who rcuuivo the gift of the title " honorable" and £200 for life*from the hands of any Ministry is not a factor in the present question ; the thing to be considered is whether the people generally should not bring pressure to bear on the House with a view to having this much needed reform inaugurated. As at present, .constituted, the Legislative Council consists -of a gathering of friends and supporters, selected from time-to tjma by. various^ Governments to which, they could havp -been of service, many of whom w^re rejected by, the people they' sought to represent in another Chamber. Almost every administration ever in office in New Zealand has abused its power in selecting nominees for the Upper Chamber—later Ministries, in a gross manner, —and it is time # that snch means of tempting corrupt Governments should, be removed. We do not advocate the abolition of the Council, but would have the elec tion of its members placed in the hands of the people, and so prevent the abomin able abuses of power which have from time, to time occurred as we have described. We have not to look far for the success of the elective* system. In Victoria, after a long trial, it has been found to work most satisfactorily ; when corruption was rampant in Government departments and members of the Ministry even were openly committing most glaring, outrages in the administration of their offices, the , Upper House prevented them - legalising some of their grossest, Acts, aud" .checked measures which would have been, for" ever Wots and stains on Colonial history. An-Upper Chamber should be a means of preventing hasty legislation—in fact that is the chief object of its existence, and another part

of .its important funcHons should b? to see that the acts of the popular chamber do not interfere in an improper manner with the rights of property ; bat how can any sensible man, upon going through the list of the *' Lords," suppose for one moment that the present Council is competent to do either—though doubtless willing enough ? -X)no of the reasons for then on existence of the present state of affairs, is its encouragement of the growth of a hybrid species of aristocracy, the undesirableness of which cannot be doubted. Should the question resolve itself into a decision between a continuance of the obtaining system, and an entire abolition of the chamber, we venture" to assert that the abolition would be the wiser course to adopt, and the more likely result to ensue. As it is at present constituted, the institution we write of serves no good purpose, and its immediate reform is demanded in the interests of good government. We, trust that the session will not be allowed to advance much further without some move being made in this important matter.