The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1883. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1480, 11 September 1883, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1883. THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

WE lmvo not as yet seen the Bill which the Government lias circulated for the reform of the Upper House bet we understand that it proposes to return members to the'Legislative Council for periods of ten years with an arrangement by which one half of the members will retire every five years. All vacancies caused by resignation or death are to be filled pro tern by appointments emanating from the House of representatives, Tho North and Middle Islands are to bo constituted two gigantic electoral districts returning an equal number of representatives, and the elections are to be conducted on the philosophical system known as Hare's. All this looks very nice in theory, but possibly may break down in practice, If carried out it might produce a Lords Chamber equal to the existing one, but the unfortunate " if" must not be overlooked. A ten years term of office would giye stability to the members of the reformed Upper House, but if "public opinion" is •strong enough to turn our perpetual Peers into "ten years' tenants" it would probably be found able to reduce the decennial term to five or three years. What guarantee with the drawn sword—" public opinion"—suspended over our heads is there that any change which is now proposed shall not be the prelude to further changes, Once in our infancy we endeavored to conciliate a big dog we camo across by throwing it a morsel of a cake we had been provided with. The expression of that dogs face after it had swallowed the first piece convinced us that it was necessary for tus to give it a second bit, and before the interview ended the sagacious animal secured all that we had. Public opinion stands openmouthed in a similar manner, and the Ministry having commenced to gratify its rapacity are incapable of making any stand while they have anything left to throw to it. As in the case of our own experience with tho dog they only hope to save themselves. We aro afraid that when the gojony does come to elect an Upper House candidates will adopt the usual election tactics to se'eure seats, and that men with the longest purses or men who are willing to spend the most money in contesting for places will leave in the background men who bear the highest characters, and who are beat fitted for the position. And when the House is elected what would be the result if it came into conflict with the other chamber ? The constitutional means existing at present for adjusting difficulties between the two bodies would no longer be available, and very serious consequences might follow, The question of whether it is necessary to reform the Upper House has not yet been discussed by Parliament, and possibly in might be worth while for the country to consider it. As far as we can see there is more need for the Upper House bringing in a Bill to reform the Lower one.