CHAP. vii] RELATIONS OF THE HOUSES 575
number of the Lower House, and by making provision for
bhe case of a deadlock, which it was recognized might arise
if the existing position were disturbed! The proposal was
Dot received with satisfaction in the country, and on the
defeat of the Wade Ministry it appears to have been definitely
dropped. Tt is indeed natural that there should be no wish
to strengthen an Upper House. Even with the possibility
of swamping before it, the Upper House of 1909 had rejected
Proposals with regard to land put forward by the Govern-
ment of Mr. Wade, and if its position were strengthened it is
more probable that it would present serious difficulties in
the way of progressive legislation than that it would effect
ay great service to the state. In the short second session
of 1910 the Labour party had hardly any representatives in
the Council, but the Council and Assembly did not disagree
oI any measure of importance. It is, however, the intention
of the Labour party to abolish the Council if possible, and
it will be expected of members appointed by the Labour
party that they will agree to its abolition, though the
device adopted in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick of
asking a formal pledge willnot (on the advice of Mr. Watson)
be followed in this case
§2. NEW ZEALAND
In the case of New Zealand disputes with regard to general
legislation came to a head in 1891 and 18922 In January
1891 Lord Onslow, on the advice of his ministers, added six
Members to the Legislative Council. His ministers had
desired to reform the Council, but a Bill to reduce the period
of nomination to seven years, and to limit its number to
one-half of those in the House of Representatives, had failed
In 1887 before it reached a second reading, and though in
1890 they supported a Bill which was introduced into the
Council by a private member, it had been rejected by the
' See Parliamentary Debates, 1910, pp. 1844 seq. Cf. Herald, Fob. 15, 1911.
' See Parl, Pap., H. C. 198, 1893-4. There had, of course, often been
lifficulticy carlier; see Pember Reeves, Long White Cloud, Pp. 372 seq. ;
State Eaperiments in Australia and New Zealand. i. 104 seq. ; Dilke,
Problems of Greater Britain. i. 494
