A.—7

1893. NEW ZEALAND.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL APPOINTMENTS. (CORRESPONDENCE RELATING THERETO.) [In continuation of A.-7, 1892.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly Excellency.

No. 1. Mv —' } Wellington, New Zealand, 22nd June, 1892. I have the honour to inform you that, since my arrival in the colony on the 7th instant, I have had several interviews with Mr Ballance, the Premier on the subject of the appointment of the increase of the Legislative » the request of the Government that twelve new nominations to that Chamber te approved of; and yesterday morning I informed him that I felt myself unable to a P| oi £ h ™- t0 me was as follows: that. there are certain projects which the Government wish to pass into law, the legislation as to land in particular; and that the Government find themselves in an unbearable position in the Legislative Council. In the House of Eepresentatives they have a good working majority; but in the Legislative Council the AttorneyGeneral who is the only Minister in that Chamber, finds himself with the support of only, at the outside, four or five members, none of whom possess any debath o° P whatever. «It is plain," said Mr. Ballance « that no Government can carry on the business of the House satisfactorily when in one Chamber « Jhey exist only on sufferance." He also said, later on, that it was not the wish to swamp the Legislative Council, but only to have a certain amount of debating-power, of which at present they have none. He remarked tTaufthe Legislative Council throws out the Bills going .to -"»*»*»» this session the consequences maybe very serious and stated thathethouglit Lord Onslow would have granted twelve. But I pointed out that in the confidential despatch which Lord Onslow had left for me, and which he showed to Mr Ballance before leaving, he had not indicated that he would grant more than eight j Min i st did not contemplate swamping the Legislative Council; that I was anxious to do what I could to mlet my Ministers'views, but that I must have some time to reflect. could to meet j had with M r. Ballance yesterday morning at which the Attorney-General was also present, I said that I had carefully weighed The arguments of the Premier in favour of appointing twelve members; that I admitted that appointments should be made; but that, alter considering the reasons given by the late Governor against agreeing to the proposal made to him fust before he left the colony, which was identical with the one made to me I found myself in accord with Lord Onslow, and that I was unable to agree to mote than eight appointments, though as soon as a resignation, which had been rnouncTd by telegraph, became an accomplished fact I would agree to nil up this vacancy, making in all nine appointments.

I—A. 7.