The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1882. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 4, Issue 1265, 29 December 1882, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29, 1882. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

The Otago Daily* Times calls fori reform of the Legislative Council, but in demanding this, our contemporary makes theobjections which are usually brought forward against this body as it is "at preseht'cdh'stitutecl;

It accuses it of being unequal to the performance of'its'functions, but'ij would : be; easy on similai;. grounds tij bring the same charge against the House of Representatives'. ■•' It' asserts that one-half of. its members are from age and mental' inactivity practicallyl useless, but tins is almost a compliment as it admitsthat fifty t per cent .pf. the 1 niethbevs' on'its muster'roll tically f usefulj; and could 'iW.e, say more] than this of the delegates of the people! in the other I 1 'Of course it is desirable,to, eliminate the weak-Honov-ables out" of the Council; but no scheme: has yet been! suggested-to accomplish' this which is likely to meet with gen-; eral acceptance.' The Upper House,! instead ; .of- deteriorating ;durjng thej 1 past few years' has absolutely im-ji proved from 'the .fact that re-Ji c,ent appointments, to ij;, have,, beenj unexceptionable'..in''their" character.! Still it does,not hol.ditho place it ought! to maintain in the;public estimation,! and we'feurthat it cannot be altogether! trusted to reform itself..; We should'; not be sorry to T see all future ad-: ditio'ns .. to ; the) elected; instead.'.of nominated, provided that; the, pleotbral-'-i. basisUwas 3 .ltidt • the' same .one as, that which returns,the House.' of aud ~,municipalities, might parhaps be entrusted with' the. task'of electing members; to; a; Legislative .Council [fit can be shown that the present Legislators Mil to discbarge'efficiently the duties which theyhave undertaken the colony would be quite justified in. withdrawiiigthe; annual 'sulary, which 1 , under the guise. of an honorarium, is paid to leach of our Colonial Lurds7!Buli it has not House, as a whole, fails in fulfilling,: with' l a^fair'4moui)t''of'efficien l cy| ! the duties which, deyolye.,upon, it. It is not so'mu'ck that the Council is in'efficientiasfthatiit does iiiotholdt. that place iii the public estimation which it ought to occupy.-• Its' independence rests too §uqh'',on-jthei goodwill of any ministry which my-be in power, and too littieVp'fil the: i! jooniMence of: an: electoral body.whichfaicly represents public opinion; -: ;■> ..;; • f i;: