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Waikato Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 2996, 26 September 1891, Page 2

Tiie wisdom of those who provided for two branches of tho Legislature when drafting the constitution of this colony, has never teen moro clearly and forcibly demonstrated than during the session which is about to terminate. Tho election took place before the country had had time to recover from the excitement and disaster of tho strike. Tho unions were defeated all along the lino and the members of these associations -were determined to have revenge upon employers and voted for the men who wore propared to give tho most unqualified promises to support every measure which the ingenuity of their leaders could conceive witJi that object in view. They woro taught that ownership of land was inimical to their interests. Hence the Taxation Bill of tho Premier and the Laud Bill of Mr McKenzie. The former of those the Council passed, but tho latter was returned to the popular chamber with so many drastic and sensible amendments that it has be >n shelved for the session. The Electoral Bill, which did away with property qualification, tho Counties Amendment Bill which proposed to give all an say in the expenditure of tho rafcoß whether liable for Xl5O or one shilling, have met with tho same fate. The fcshop Hours Bill which if passed would bo a most gross interference with the liborty and convenience of a large section of the people tho Council threw out altogether. Tho rebuko which the Council's resolutions gavo to those members who took advantage ot' thoir majority to veto themselves an additional X9O por annum has made them ashamed of themselves. Wo have written tho last sentence, so will allow it to stand, but wo fear that they aro as little capable of tho sonsation as thoir leader, who did not scruple to abuse tho forms of tho House, with tho assistance of his incapablo nominee, tho (Speaker, to drive tho ropresontativo of this district to rosign. The Payment of Members Bill would without doubt have assumed the shapo which the Council suggested and boon passed had those who woro to pocke 1 ; tho monoy not become awaro that public opinion was roused and likely to resent thoir cupidity in an unpleasant manner at the next elections. We shall hear a good deal during the recess about these matters. The Council will bo denounced as obstructivo and its abolition demanded from many platforms. "We havo passed through thissamoordeal boforo but tho good sense of tho majority has protected the colony from evil consequences. Sir G. Grey has said that the will of the majority of tho Lower Tlouso must be paramount, and if necessary twenty membors added to the roll of tho Council. It appears to have escapod his memory that thero are throe powers in the State; ho has forgotten that such an individual as tho Governor has to bo consulted. We feel confident that Lord Onslow would not consent to any such measure, and tho only alternative is an appeal to the country. In the meantime the people are gradually awakonin* to tho fact that they havo got off the safe track and aro floundoring alaout iu tho unknown territory of " King Fad." Thoy are, in a political sense, "bushed," and are much moro likely to aecopt tho services of experienced and safo politicians than trust again to those who havo led them into tho moss, Tho Council has dono good work, and when tho country ha? calmly considered the question, the threats of tho demagogues will bo of little consequenco. We quite accept the fact that the will of tho

pcoplo, persistently asserted, must and should bo paramount; but persistency necessarily entails Thought, tho Council exists mainly in order to give opportunity for its exorcise.