CHAP. viii] RELATIONS OF THE HOUSES 577
& strong feeling in the Colony that the practice of making
appointments before vacating office was not ome which
New Zealand Governments should be encouraged to follow.
In a democratic country punishment follows on wrong advice
through the action of the people, and it was not necessary for
the Governor to take such a strong step as refusing advice.
In a dispatch of April 11, 1891! Lord Knutsford said :—
With regard to the appointments to the Legislative
Council recommended by the late Government, I am of
opinion that, in accepting the advice tendered to you by
your Lordship’s responsible ministers, under the circum-
stances described in your dispatches, you acted strictly in
accordance with the “constitution of the Colony, but I do
not desire to be understood to offer any opinion upon the
action of your ministers in tendering such advice.
On June 22, 18922 Lord Glasgow reported that his
ministers desired to increase the Legislative Council by
twelve members, while he himself was prepared to concede
the appointment of nine. They had a good majority in the
House of Representatives, but in the Legislative Council the
Attorney-General, the only minister in that Chamber, had
only four or five members to help him.
Mr. Ballance did not wish to swamp the Council, but only
bo have a certain amount of debating power there. Lord
Glasgow was willing to concede nine members ; if he con-
ceded more he would run the risk of making the Council
a mere echo of the other House ; if it were to have no opinion
of its own it was of no use, but if it preserved its liberty
and gave the country time to reconsider questions it might
be of invaluable service to the Colony. In a telegraphic
reply of August 10, 1892.2 Lord Knutsford pointed out that
bhe Council consisted of thirty-one Opposition members and
five of the Ministry, while if twelve were added to the latter
bhe Opposition would still remain, and therefore the proposal
of the Premier would seem to be reasonable—the existence of
an Upper House might be imperilled unless a more even
balance of parties were secured. In a dispatch of August 8,
“Parl. Pap., H. C. 198, 1893-4, p. 14. ? Thid., p. 14.
* Ibid., p. 16.
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