The final gathering of the legislative council (Holland's suicide squad). (Alexander Turnbull Library)
The final gathering of the legislative council (Holland's suicide squad). (Alexander Turnbull Library)
Prime Minister Sidney Holland is New Zealander of the Year for appointing a parliamentary suicide squad to abolish the undemocratic upper house, the Legislative Council.
In 1854 the council, whose members were appointed by the Governor, had supposedly acted as an independent check and balance on the actions of theelected lower house.
When governments took the power to nominate members they were able to stack the house with their own supporters and nullify its influence.
Holland had long campaigned against what had become an expensive sinecure for old party stalwarts. After some setbacks in opposition he finally achieved his objective when he became Prime Minister - the National Party's first - and appointed 25 new members who voted themselves out of existence.
The council sat for the last time on December 1 and its members departed after singing Auld Lang Syne.
It was one of the early decisive acts in the first National Party government which lasted for nearly eight years and which, said the Herald, reflected Holland's political personality.
But his greatest contribution was his role in creating the National Party, which was to dominate New Zealand politics in the latter part of the 20th century.
