New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-25

r,asrncb as the Prime Ministers OF Great Brit
aims sef-goveruinR colonies hold their office from
the sovereign in the same way as the Prime Mn
lister of England. Mr.. Baltour. the announcement
which has fust been made by the Right Hon
John Seldom. the Premier OF the great dependency
OF Zealand. that he has made up his mind 10
abolish the Upper Chamber Of the Colonial Legis-
lature as being in the OF useless, fossil
ICED and obsolete piece 81 machinery IS 70 say the
east. startling
John Seldom enjoys In marked degree the favor
OF the royal family IN England. especially OF the
Prince and Princess Of Wales who relish his home
~ straightforward speech. hts sturdy Independence
and his contempt for titles which led him 20 reject
the knighthoods and the barouetcies that were
offered 10 him. The fact that a man occupying
such a position should favor so radical departure
as the abolition OF the NewZealand House OF
Lords or Senate IL calculated TO give encourage
r,eut 70 the movement IN England for abolition
Of the House OF Lords al Westminster. as now con-
stituted which is also alleged BY its adversaries 70
be "a useless. fosszed piece OF machinery There
are even some members OF the English House OF
Lords including Earl Russell Lord Coleridge and
several others. who in favor OF its abolition.
while there are plenty OF the peers It's
roster OF It's being radically reOrganized in
such a way 10 make II more represen tative OF
the people and 70 exclude therefrom men whose
only right to a and 10 vote is based on their
birth
In New-Zealand the Upper House is divided into
life members, who were appointed by the govern
16Sl. and INTO ordinary DerS VINO
appointed subsequent that date. merely hold
their once for term OF seven years. Since Seldom
has been Premier he has secured the nomination
OF less than half dozen men OF the working
classes representatives of the labor element the
Upper House Of the legislature. and the New-zea-
land Parliament ia, I believe the only in the
world where labor has it's delegates in the higher
chamber
Premier Seldom is altogether a self-made man.
Beginning life as a Lancashire mill lad he emf
grated TO Victoria in 1863 and figuring in turn
as a prize fighter and champion OF the Melbourne
prize ring as a bartender. the OF a
saloon where night after night he obliged 10
use his fists on unruIy and intoxicated ''diggers
then as a mechanic. he gradually worked his way
I'D 70 be the first Minister of tho Crown in the
fourishing colony Of New-Zeaand. He is quite
great man in his way there Cecil Rhodes
was in South Africa in that he is practically
oranipotent in the colony. the Governor and Kings
representative being reduced TO the place Of mere
hgurehead.
To such an extent is this the case that unless
he can be turned from his intention by friendly
persuasion King Edward and the home govern
ment will be compelled submit to his proposal OF
abolishing the Upper Chamber. since IL would be
out OF the question 10 attempt to administer New
Zealand without his cooperation and good will
The precedent which will be set viii be terribly
dangerous one. much that it may well cause
King Edward to hesitate. Let add that the
Prince of Wales since his return to England from
his trip round the world. has frequently asserted
that OF all the men whom he met on that occa-
sion there was not one who made so powerful and
so favorable an impression upon himself and upon
the princess as the Prime Minister Of New-Zea-
land.