committee chaired by Ronald Algie proposed an appointed Senate in 1952. The short-lived Liberal Party campaigned on re-establishing an upper house in the 1963 election. In 1990, the National government of Jim Bolger proposed an elected Senate, an idea advanced partly as an alternative to New Zealand's electoral reform process. Unicameralists in New Zealand, like former Prime Minister Sir Geoffrey Palmer, argued that the country is a small and relatively homogeneous unitary state, and hence does not need the same arrangements as federal states like Australia or Canada. In addition, Peter Dunne, then also a Labour MP, argued that other political reforms in New Zealand such as the strengthening of the select committee system, and the introduction of proportional representation, provided adequate checks and balances, which would simply be duplicated by a second chamber. Legislative Council Chamber The Legislative Council Chamber remains the location of the speech from the throne—as following the British tradition, the sovereign (or a representative) does not enter the elected House. The usher of the Black Rod summons the members of the House of Representatives to attend the Opening of Parliament in the Legislative Council Chamber, where a speech is read usually by the governor-general. It is also used for some select committee meetings, as well as meetings of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and other official functions. See also List of members of the New Zealand Legislative Council Legislative council Constitution of New Zealand Notes References Bibliography External links Sound: the end of the Legislative Council | NZHistory.net.nz, New Zealand history online Legislative Council Act, 1891 Legislative Council Act, 1914 Legislative Council Abolition Act, 1950 Legislative Council, 1853-1950 Constitution of New Zealand Parliament of New Zealand Defunct upper houses 1853 establishments in New Zealand 1950 disestablishments in New Zealand