The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, DEC. 31, 1889.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2725, 31 December 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. Equal and exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political. TUESDAY, DEC. 31, 1889.

Normsv. is so readily believed as a rumour setui-otiicially declared by a Government to be without foundation. To say this may not We couinlinientary, 1 »ut the iae't remains. I ho lirst question always asked is, why select this speci:ii rumour for contradiction when so many others are allowed to pass 1 The answer is, invariably, that the contradiction comes from the feeling that there is at least a substrata of truth which will give the rumour credibility. This is the case with the latest about, tin! contemplated calling of 111:w ij.'('.inijits to the legislative Council from among the present Il<u) e e of Hi'jiri'sentatives. The reduction of members will

tula; etl't'ct in Oiisi) ot' dissolution, or at the furthest, sifter tiie next session. The House will then be brought down to 70 Europem iikmu lull's. Wlm t is to become of the 21 til it must lie left homeli'S:i 1 Amonp; them will be several staunch supporters of the present Ministry. They must not, according to their own-view and that of Ministers, he left altosether out in the cold. The Disqualification Act of Now Zealand its very rigid, and prevents any from holding a paid (roverntnent office till a year after they have ceased to be members. The only thing loft is to make them Legislative Councillors. Then thoy will bo secure in a small way, and with J*il the honour, for life. The knowledge that livo or six of the (jovernment supporters would bo glad of this place, and the unfortunately numerous precedents, probably gave rise to the rumour in the first instance. Or, quite likely that sorao indiscrete member lot the cat out of the bag, as suggested by the Wellington Evening Post. At all events, Ministers were so uneasy under it as to deny the rumour— somi-ofHcially—in the Dunedin Eveniug Star. The public is emphatically assured that they have no idea of adding to the numbers of the Upper House. . . But this is not what people said or thought. IE new r appointments were made, it would not bo with the idea of adding to the numbers. The reasons given would be very different, and the addition bo merely an unavoidable incident. The real consideration will be how far the position of Ministers would be perilled by their taking this course. That could not be answered till after a general electioi., and for this reason we are quite ready to believe that no addition to the Council, at an early date, is likely to take place. If new appoi ntninn's be made before an election, they might be resented by the election, and Ministers are not likely wantonly to take that risk. Ou this point we differ from the Post and other papers that we shall hear of additions, in spite of present denials, before the dissolution of the present Parliament. On all sides such additions are declared unnecessasy. The Council is all ready too large, numbering 39, when 35 ought to be, at the outside, its proportion to the 70 in the other chamber. Of course we hear much, and are likely to hear more, about the present disparity in the representation between tho general provincial districts That must now be left to cure itself gradually. Any other remedy would bo worse tliau the disease. As the case stands Auckland has six councillors, Wellington nine, Canterbury seven, Otago seven, Southland seven, Nelson three, Hawkes Bay two, West-land two, Marlborough two, and Taranaki one. To make these numbers in proportion to the respective populations, several additions to the three large provinces, and especially to Auckland, would be required,

We flare not believe, despite prevalent rumours and the credence which has been given to them, that Ministers will add to the number of councillors before the next general election. To do so would be a blunder, as well as a wrong. After the election they will b- answerable to the new Parliament, and not to a moribund Parliament like the present. Even then they will have no right to appoint a single member till they have met the Parliament, and proved that they possess its confidence. We are aware that the contrary course has been more than once pursued, and that defeated candidates have been pitchforked, immediately after their defeat, into the Council. The practice, for all that, has always been denounced as objectionable. It would be more highly objectionable now that a great change in the members of the Lower House is to be effected. No personal considerations should be allowed to rule. There has been far too much laxity in the past, and many appointments have been made neither desirable in themselves, nor creditable in their origin. It is very well for a Government to seek consolation for its supporters who may lose their present positions, but to foist them for life upon the country as salaried legislators is too serious a matter. When they have thus selected a certain number from their own party, the Opposition claim the same privilege, and seek to restore the balance by more new appointments when they get into power. It would be cheaper, less mischievous, and not more absurd, to pension defeated candidates, and have done with them altogether. Many among them, defeated though they might be, could fill the position of councillor with credit to themselves and with advantage to the country. It is not because they are defeated that we should object to their appointment, but to its being made merely for personal reasons and not with an eye only to the needs and benefit of the country