LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3214, 31 January 1893, Page 2

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REFORM.

The National Association of New Zea'aml, Auckland section, have recently issued a report upon legislative Council reform. The subject, according to the tenor of the report, has been forced upon their consideration by the recjnb decision of tlm Colonial Office, upon what has been termed "The Constitutional Question," the effect of which ha 3 been to destroy the independence of the second chnmho:' The fo'lowing are the resolutions, in extenso. as carried in tho Council 1. That the Legislative Council should be elective, 2. That cindidat»s should be forty years of nze and upwards; should have resided in the colony at least five yeaw; and not have been guilty of »ny felony.—A' to this resolution little need be said. Tho aei prop ped t> be required of candidates {4O years), an! tho snggested term of residence (five years), might possibly provoke some little discussion. Tho Council, however, believe that in both these limitations, precautions Invo been taken which will operate in the colony's interest, as the members of the Upper Chamber should be men of ripe experience, and should also have resided in the colony lone enough to have acquired a thnroueh knowledge ot its affairs. 3. That tho term of office should be nine years, one-third (j) of the members of the chambers retiring every three yeirs.-The term oC office proposed is three tunes longer than that prevailing in the Lower House, but whilst members would sit for nine years, the Council would be kept abreast of public opinion by the triennial election of a third of its membership. The term of a Senator of the United States is three times that of a member of the House of Representatives, and Professor Bryce, in his " American Commonwealth," say?, " Experience has shown that the term is by no means too long." 4. That the number should be, aa nearly as possible, one half (J) that of the Lower House.-This resolution requires little elucidation. The Council believo the proportion a fair and nrnpar one, and that an Upper Chamber i f moderate size would be amin efficient and le?s expensive body, and wiuld be likely to include men of higher intellectual attainments than if its members were more nnmer ms. 5. That the electoral districts should be extended accordingly, so that each district elect one member every three yoars,—ln the absence of Provincial Councils, or like bodies, with the possibility of the election of the Upper House by them, this resolution h the nat'imlly o irol'aiy of No 3, and involvoi a proportional combination of electoral districts, equivalent to the number of members required to bo elect 0 ;! evory threj ypars; thus, electoral districts returning six members to the House of Representatives would be linked together for tho purpose of electine (once in three veur-j) one memher of the Log slatire Co'incil. 6. That every payer of direct taxes or lucal rates should be entitled to vote for candidates for the Legislative Council.— The qualification of electors has required and has engaged the most earnest consideration of the Council. Were the members of the Second Chamber elected under the same conditions as the Hniisa of Kepresentatives the two Houses would be too nearly duplicates of each other, notwithstanding the proposed difference in qualifications and tenure of office. In the original draft of the Constitution of the Colony, Sir Genrgo Grey escaped that difficulty by pr. viding for the election of the Leeislative Council by the Provincial Councils. In the absence-of a federal form of eovernraenc. and of such bndii I as tho lato Provincial Assemblies, the Cmncil havo decided to recommend that the Second Chamber be rendered represent*tive of electors in their capacity of taxpayers, and that a contribution, however small, to direct, general, or local taxation be n sufficient qualification. Under so liberal a scheme, no industrious colonist could possibly bo excluded from oxprcising his privilege", nnd the franchise would not bo based on wealth, but would have its foundation in thrift and enterprise. Such a franchise, while broad and liberal, would be distinct and different from that of the Lower Chamber'; and the Council believe that a House emanating from this electorate could not fail to command the confidence of ths country. 7. That the Legislative Council should biYB pnver to propose, or concur in amendment of (but not originate) Money Bills.— To propose or concur in Amendments of [bub not originate) Money Bills, is the natural premeati >'e of an Elect i?e Upper Chamber. The provision is not only in force in the United States, but in almost all the constitutionally-governed countries ofßuropo-monarchial as well as republican.

There are many kindred matters and points of detail which the Council hnvo necessarily had to consider in formulating their scheme, but which thoy have not thought it necessary to mention in laying before the Association its main urinciplos.— Signed on behalf of the Council. John Batgkii, President of the Council. W. Head Br.oonFiF.r.n, Convener of Political Cominitte. John ITastik, Secretary. National Association Rooms, 123 Queenstreet, Auckland.