The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. THURSDAY, DEC. 31, 1891.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 3036, 31 December 1891, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

THURSDAY, DEC. 31, 1891.

Eoual and exact justicc Co all uien, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

To continuo our uotico of Air Bailment spi ech, in roforen3Q to the Legislative Council tho Premior snid that ho considered tho reduction of tenure of a seat to seven years an important reform, because " when a man was put in for seven years he would foel tho responsibility of his position, woidd keep in touch with tho people, who would havo the right to put him thore again at the end of tho term ; but it ho sut there for life he became iu a vory fow years an incorrigible Tory oven if ho wore a Liberal whon ho first wout thore c- v -v Tho reform of tho Council was only half complotu. * ' v ' '* If the Couucil woro to survive, they would havo to appreciate tho popular will and rule iu tho iuterosts of all classes." j\lr Ballance, before making tho abovo remarks, had condemned any system of clojtiou to tho Couucil; reappointments will therefore be made as at present >by n jirmiations by tho Ministry of tho day, subject to the approval of the Governor. Any incentive thcreforo that a member might have, iu conse-

queuco of tho limited lorin, to bury his convictions and become siuiply onu of a l'ujjMr.ition body, won!-1 ho in Mi." iliru.-.tion of cnvryiuo favour with Mir' party in, or most likely to bo in power at tho termination of his seven year.*' term. To accept .\[r Ballanco's statement as to tho change in a man's political opinions from Liberal to Tory after n few years in the Council i-"i too much to expect. Tho Intf.or term, wo may romarlc, is applied by Mr Ballanco and his satellites to all men who ate not prepared to take a seat on tho socialist car. A mtiu ia their ,

oyns i.-' not a Liberal unless Ito is a Sii/tu'Ut, au'l propiirc"] lo follow BullAnco without, aslring questions or thinlmig for liimsolt; ho continuesLiboral as ho abjures tho old faith and remains a schismatic. The traditions of his party teat h that the aim of statesmen should lie to coufor the greatest possible individual freedom. Tho party which calls this man Tory holds on the contrary, that every man's actions should fie reou!ated hv Act of Parliament, and that Acts should lie passed without check by any second chamber. It. is the misapplication of the term Liberal, and not alteration in the principles of councillors which has angered the Premier, or rather given him nn opportunity to denounce tho Council and all its doings. He knows in his heart that it is he, who is no longer Liberal, but has become, if we may use the term, a " socialistic ntitocrat. 1 a bird of quite another complexion. He tells us that the reform of tho Council is not half completed, but gives tio information as to the form the other half is to assume. He thought that " the infusion of new blood—liberal blood might havn the desired effect, so that the Council would not oppose measures which emanated from the will expressed at the ballot box." This implies an assumption that the measures rejected by the Council last session were specitically voted upon at thf elections. There is no foundation for tho insinuation. Mr Hallancs's party came into power mainly on twospecified questions, the abolition of the Property-Tax and economy in administration. The remainder of the policy adopted by candidates to secure election varied so greatly that they counterbalanced each other. The majority of the members supporting the Premier promised reduction of customs duties, and this may be perhaps added as a third clearly defined principle. How about the voice of the people being paramount as regards this matter 1 There is surely an inconsistency here. As regards the Land Tax, resolutions out of number were passed in its favour by Liberal Associations, .Radical Leagues and other bodies, but we cannot call to mind any instance in which it was suggested that one class of holders should be exceptionally taxed. Tho majority held that all land should he taxed, others that holders up to a certain value should go free. This was the Land Tax the people had in view ; that proposed to be levied next year is therefore not in accordance with expressed public opinion, or with that given forth from the hustings by the Premier himself. This much is clear from the speech—the Council is to be flooded with Liberal (?) Socialistic appointees, and if the Governor refuses to accede to the advice of the Ministry in this regard they will resign. Wo maintain that the course proposed is not justifiable, and can only become so after an appeal to the country on the specific measures which the Council has refused or may refuse, to pass. Iu the event of the electorssupporting the Ministry, and the Council again rejecting the measures, then, and then only, will thoy be entitled to ask that the Council shall bo swamped. The, proper position for the Couuei' is that it shall only bo coerced by a direct vote, of the people after they have, had ample lime to weigh the questions which constitute the differences between the two Houses.