OUR HOUSE OF PEELS.

Waikato Times, Volume XI, Issue 890, 7 March 1878, Page 2

OUR HOUSE OF PEELS.

How, asks the 'Saturday Advertiser,' Ciiii we have a tiou-e of Peers without a P«ta\ige ? The consequence of this anomaly has already lt-d to awakward collision-, and is certain to lead to worse iv the tuturei a remedy be not, provided. L'he Colonial U^per Teu have not necessarily any connection wi-h the aristocracy. Tuey may bd the sons of washer- women, appie-wives oroid cou vie te. Successful sometimes by uard-headeduess, some iiiiw.* by uieaness, often by acct ieao, they are nob tuff oat of which 10 m.ike a doniiu.i t ela.ss. Th-y ma,, have "a* much learning as may enable hem to jidev a lou or two 01 books to be sent out by ' thrir . ontion corresuonJetit, regard K-tiS of the\r loutontd if fchey are au t;ibly . b.mnd, to .dorn heir library .-hetved. The olisis m Victoria, amouatiug almost to a revoluiion, is tlie result of this ooliiical absurdity. A few selfwiiled, wealthy earn, who absorbed the whole government of the country, even to the extent of fixing what money shall be appropriated cjnd speut, a privilege at Home contiued to i he Commons — the representatives of the taxpayers. The popular leaders properly declitie to submit to ihw unwarrantible assumption of power, aad they are boldly adopting measures to prove the danger winch flows from the irierponsi'oility and annoyance of the Legislative Council. Whatever may be the outcome of the present struggle, there can he no doubt that unless the Upper House change their tac;ics and reduce their pi-e. •re.isions. they will inevitably be swept a way altogether. Ib is not by snch proceedings their own welfare is to be promoted. There is no lack of quo I sense m the veraife Englishman, and if the C uncii desire to retain their posi* tiou, they vi st defer to the popular will, which, iv .lih main is never tar wr.ing. The dead-lock m ]\feliioui'tie point-i a mor.il for consideralori by our New Zealand Coancil. ilowever estimable the rnenuers may be m their private capacity, tin y are no more qualified to veto, the legislation of the' representatives, of the people thau any other average body of men m the pountry. There is only one use of an Upper House iv a colon , and that, is to operate as a check upon hasty legis asion ; but a variety of better checks can be easily devised. We do not need forty -three gentlemen to act as a Birmingham House of Peers, at a cost of £10. QUO « year. Three or four iCx.miiip.ra of Jills would be a much beite 1 ' protection against imperfect legislation, and they would not cost a third of the money.