NZHistory.net.nz > Gallery > The House > Sound files > Transcript
End of Legislative Council (285k). Charles Wheeler, longstanding press gallery reporter from the turn of the twentieth century and parliamentary commentator, describes the role of the Legislative Council and its abolition in 1950. From 'The end of the Legislative Council', by Charles E. Wheeler, c. 1951, D655, New Zealand Sound Archives.
With the passing of the old year New Zealand loses one of its legislative chambers. During the whole period of representative government we've had two branches of the legislature. One an elected House of Representatives and the other, this disappearing institution, the Legislative Council whose members were nominated by the government of the day, first for life and then later for seven-year periods. This change is a constitutional revolution, but it was made quietly. British people can do drastic things without riotous demonstrations. When Mr Holland, as leader of the Opposition, introduced a bill to abolish the Legislative Council, only a few interested in constitutional questions showed much concern. Private members bills rarely got far in Parliament but Mr Holland's opportunity came within a year, when as head of the government, he could try again with the certainty he'd succeed. But Council has been unobtrusive, or should I say, unassertive for years. Newspapers neglected it and the average man hardly knew it existed. If the threatened institution had many friends, Parliament would have been bombarded with resolutions and petitions to save it. Nothing of the sort happened and now the Legislative Council is no more. Its handsome meeting place, with marble pillars, bronze railings and red plush benches for the members, beauty and comfort combined, is empty and silent.