The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1898

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 241, 29 January 1898, Page 2

The Waikato Argus GEORGE EDGECUMBE Proprietor. SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1898

WHENEVER any pet measures of Socialistic Ministers, Trades Uuions, Women's Leagues and Kindred Associations are rejected by the Legislative Council, the first named threaten the extinction of that body from platforms, and the others pass resolutions calling upon Ministers and membars to at once move in that direction. As regards Ministers, they of coarse know better, and their speeches are simply with the object of currying favour with the ill-informed people, who for tbo most part compose the rank and file of the associations we have named. These people altogether overlook the fact that the Council is as much a branch of the constitution as the House of Itepresentatives. To abolish the Council would entail that the members should pass sentence of death upon themselves, and after that the measure would require tho consent of Her Majesty, which would not be, in the least likely, to bo accorded. It is recognised by every statesman that it would not bo safe to entrust the unchecked power of legislating to any popularly elected body. It might be that a general election took place at a time when the popular mind wus excited, with tho result that men would be returned to Parliament pledged to measures which the electors in their calmer moments would never sanction, The framers of the American constitution recog-

nised Ibis when" they gave manhood suffrage, and in consequence placed greater power in tho bands of the President nnd.Seuato than is wielded by nuy sovoroign under constitutional government or any other second chamber in the world. It is owing to this wise provision that the great Republic has not crumbled to pieces many years ago. People who talk about the abolition of tho Council fail to recognise what "arc its functions. They speak glibly of the members of it as being inimical to the interests of the country and as being actuated entirely by selfish motives ; this cf course is nonsense. It is true the Council in this country has shown itself opposed to the granting of special privileges to certain classes, to the detriment of the whole people. They hav<;, on more than one occasion of Lite, rejected measures in order that the people not to bo privileged, might havo time to bring their influence to bear to prevent legislation which would be injurious to them and the country. Those who are versed in tho working of parliamentary institutions know that second chambers always bend to the will of tho people when that will is clearly and distinctly enunciated after the people have had time to be educated on the question. It is quite possible that public opinion may be almost unanimously in favour of the principle of a measure, and at the samo time opposed to tho meaus proposed to give effect to it. This was the case with the Old Age Pensions Bill of last session. Everybody is in favour of the old people being made comfortable in their old age, but a very large proportion of the thinking people were opposed to the details of the Bill. If tho thing is to be done at all, the details must be arranged by Parliament and not left to the will of Ministers and public officials. The old people must not be subject to the whims of those in office. If the country is to pay the pensions, all must participate regardless of creed and political colour. It is to ht hoped that we shall net hear any more stage thunder with regard to the Council either from Ministers or the section of tho Press which supports them. They all know that the Council cannot be abolished, and to continue the bluster stamps the blusterers, still more indelibly than they are already, as political humbugs.