589
CHAP. vii] RELATIONS OF THE HOUSES
has been taken in the matter; the constitution of the
Senate can only be changed by the action of the Imperial
Parliament, and there is not sufficient evidence that the
[eeling in Canada is sufficiently strong in favour of the
setting up of a House with any real powers. Reformers are
hopelessly divided as to the basis of reform, whether
clective by constituencies larger than those for the House
of Commons or by the provincial parliaments, or nominative
by the provincial governments or parliaments, or a combina-
tion of methods, and the duration of membership, and so
forth. There is also a section in favour of abolition, the
royal veto being adequate.
Sir W. Laurier’s latest expression® of his view insists
on the disadvantage of substituting an Imperial veto for
a Senate. The veto is necessary for Imperial interests, just
as the veto over provincial legislation is used to prevent
interference with the policy of Canada and Imperial interests
at large. He himself thought that the rejection of the
Yukon railway scheme was a fatal error, and he was prepared
for reform. But he found no basis of agreement ; he thought
a twelve or fifteen years’ tenure might be better ; elections
he deprecated and believed no one to favour ; he had once
favoured election by the local legislatures, but the recent
history of the United States Senate had cooled his ardour
a that direction. Still he thought that a Senate partly so
lected and partly nominated might be a satisfactory body,
tor it would give the representation of different schools of
thought, For the Opposition? Mr. Foster thought a period
of seven or ten years’ service was enough, and advocated
election by large constituencies and on a proportional basis
‘to secure a Government majority in proportion to the real
voting power of the Government in the country). Then
there should be a limited number of nominees—twelve or
fifteen—to represent different interests, banking, agriculture,
forestry, fishery, science, universities, and labour. It was,
however, admitted on all sides that the Senate did
- House of Commons Debates, 1910-1, pp. 2768 seq.
Thid., 2780 seq.
