POSTS AND PLATFORMS.

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20265, 6 August 1937, Page 6

POSTS AND PLATFORMS.

When hie stated recently that the Government would make further appointments to the Legislative Council, to bring that body up to normal numerical strength, Mr Savage must have overlooked a statement he made more than a year ago when the first batch of appointments was announced. The fact is that, instead of announcing new appointments, the Prime Minister should be stating when and in what manner he intends to abolish the Council for its abolition is a part of the Labour programme. There is no option, such as that stated by the late Lord Morley with regard to the House of Lords —that it should be either mended or ended. The New Zealand Labour Party has a plank which states: “ The abolition of the Legislative Council.” In March, 1936, Mr Savage, when commenting on the appointments made to the Upper House said it was true that the Labour Party for years advocated abolition, and added: “It is not intended to move in this direction just yet.” This was one of the problems for the future, and it was possible that there would be an alteration of the existing law. It will have been noted that the leader of the Government was not very definite with regard to the matter, and the fact probably is that he has found the Council just as useful as did his predecessors. It has provided a means of recognising the services of men who have been prominent in the movement, which is one way of saying that it constitutes what is officially known as patronage. But the matter is not likely to create much interest, because, despite the plank in the Labour platform, the majority of the people of the Dominion favour the bicameral system of government, and there has never been any general demand for a single-chamber system. If Mr Savage had really intended to give effect to this plank then the eighteen months that have elapsed since the first appointments were made would have afforded an opportunity for action. Instead he intends to make further appointments, and it remains to be seen whether the nominees will be, like the first group, comprised solely of Labour supporters. Whether it is necessary to have an Upper House comprised of forty members is doubtful. The thirty-four who now constitute the Council, probably could do all the revisionary work that is necessary, but Mr Savage intends to make the additional appointments without any reference to a Bill to give effect to the policy of the party and abolish the second Chamber. It will remain a matter for the future, and not, in all probability, the immediate future.