THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1911. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10432, 25 September 1911, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1911. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

The discussion which took place in I the House of Representatives last . week during thie discussion of the Estimates revealed lam extraordinary conception of legislative i-esponisibilr dty ,by certain members, of the House. Mr iMaisisey was clearly entitled,, when the vote for thie Legislative Council was under review, to /take- tllie opinion of the House concerning the constitution of the second dhiaim/ber. There is a strong feeling in tlhe ocuntry that the composition of the Council is unsatisfactory. The manner in which, appointments are made is nealtlner democratic nor just, and, so far as its effectiveness as a, revising chajnber is poncernied, the countiy vvtckuld Be much, .the better without it. Mr Mia&sey proposed a reduction in the I Estimates as an expression of opia- j ion ithiat the Council s'hould be elect- : ed on the proportional representa- j tion bajis. The discussion which followled x,a& move amusing tlian edifying. Half-a-dozen or tmore I gcodGfovemmenit 'Sfupplotrteirs! admitted that 'reform was necessary, but declared their intention of voting against. Mir Massey's resolution, because it was an attempt to embarrass the Government. What a puerile objection, to be sure! Bow can the country respect men wiho place considerations of party before those of principle, wiho sacrifice their own interests,/ and those of the Dominion as a whole, for the mere sake of keeping the Ward Admmdßtration in power ? Have politics: sunk to that' low ebb that considerations of principle must be ! entirely subbrdwiated to those df place and power? The Prime Minister has knowm for years that the system of nominating the second Chamber for sliort periods, has become farcical and wasteful. He cannot 'have failed to recognise 'tie growing discontent at the continuance of such a system., He went m far as to admit on Friday night that

some reform was necessary. And yet he treats public opinion with, the suprernest •contempt, and absolutely refuses to bring down a .measure of reform, tho white hiis servile followers haimiiiiate themselves by voting for jiarty iui preference to principle. Sir Joseph Ward ventured tin© opinion tihiat the country would have an | opportunity of expressing its voice, upon tike subjecit at an early date. That is quite true. - But will the Prime* Minister consent to Legislative Qounai reform being made one of the principal issues in the coming election? Will he dare to champion the present system from the hustings? Will the thirty-five members who voted against reform on Friday laist have the courage to. jt-stiry their votes before tike electors? lime will tell. .The constitj uencdes have endured a good deal in the name of liberalism.. They will be utterly devoid of respect for their own interests if they tolerate this latest attempt to efface principle for the sab© of party.