The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY, JULY 26, 1886. The Representation Bill.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1298, 26 July 1886, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prevalebit. MONDAY, JULY 26, 1886. The Representation Bill.

We have already referred to the leading features of the Representation Bill now before the House of Representatives, and the majority ot our readers are acquainted with the main principles ot the measure introduced by the Premier. If population is to be the sole basis of representation the scheme proposed by Sir Robert Stout will provide a very simple method of redistribution; it will not require the intervention of Parliament to perform a mere arithmetical operation; no principle is involved in the proceeding, and the machinery proposed should be effective and generally satisfactory. But it is not clearly established that representation should be based on population alone, indeed it appears to us that the number of electors would be, in some respects, a more equitable basis. The original Constitution Act provided that the number of members for each district should, as nearly as possible, bear the same proportion to the number of electors in such district as that number should bear to the whole number of electors in New Zealand, and although this principle was over-ridden in letter by the last Representation Act it was in fact allowed some weight in the actual redistribution of seats. It is natural, of course, that the Northern Press should peremptorily demand that population should be the sole basis of representation. The late census has revealed the fact that the population of the North Island has increased more rapidly than the population of the South during the last quinquennial period, and our Northern contemporaries are anxious to make the very most of their advantage. One of our exchanges after congratulating the Northern members of the House on the fact that the perseverance with which they have insisted on the question of representation being dealt with this session has resulted in the production of such a Bill as is likely to give general satisfaction to the country, goes on to say:—“ There can be no doubt that there was a strong aversion on the part of the Ministry to the severe discussion which it would most surely give rise to. And there is no use attempting to conceal the fact that their unwillingness was caused by ■ the rapid increase of population in the North Island as compared with that in the South Island, which the tecent census has disclosed, and the apprehension lest any proposal to reduce the repiesentation of the South and enlarge that of the North shonld produce disloyalty among a good many of their supporters. The Southern members have, in virtue of their superiority of numbers, been so long accustomed to dictate the policy of the country that

the prospect of the North in this respect being nearly if not altogether on a footing of equality with the South is not at all welcome.” It is quite possible that these allegations are consistent with fact—members of Parliament are often weighed by considerations which have very little influence with their constituents—but we feel sure that a majority of the electors of this portion of the colony have no desire to enjoy political privileges to which they are not entitled. We do not contend that the number of electors would be an absolutely fair basis of representation, but it would be pre-

ferable to the population basis, There I are many anomalies and imperfections in our present rough-and-ready system of election which must be remedied before the whole matter can be placed upon a satisfactory footing. “If a 1 true representation in the Legislature of the interests and feelings of all classes of the community is desired,” ' isays an exchange, “ the only way to 1 attain that end is to adopt some system ot proportional representation, irrespective of territorial boundaries. The establishment of a quota, whether tf population or electors, is perhaps ntended as a step in that direction, >ut it is not one which will have any ;ood effect under the present system, [n fact, it is quite out of place in such j, system. If the House is prepared to accord to each quota of the people ol New Zealand a fair proportion of representation, it should also be prepared to adopt some modification of what is known as Hare’s system. Then, the number of members being once fixed, there would be no need for any periodical readjustments.” Hare’s system has been explained at length in these columns, and we agree with our contemporary that the adoption of some modification of that system in this I colony would remove many of the anomalies and imperfections of which 1 we complain.

The following paragraph, extracted from the Irish correspondence of the London Times , under date, Limerick, 2nd June, shows the tyranny which the law-abiding portion of the poopl j of Ireland are subjected to at the bands of the National League A letter received from the South of Ireland by the Rev Mr Forster, rector of St. Mary’s, Belfast, who vouches for the contents, shows the cruel extremes to which boycotting is extended : “x\ c’ergyman of the Church of Ireland in the South a couple of months «go fell under the ban of t'-.e local National League, chiefly for interposing to shelter two Protestants, parishioners. He found it impossible to procure anywhere around the simplest necessaries of life, and all bis supplies had to bo procured from a distance of over CO miles. Near homo ho tried la vain; his messengers wore watched, and their steps were dogged wherever they went. A little later this clergyman’s wife fell seriously ill of an illness which ended in her death During her last days ho could not get for love or money In the neighboring town one pound of lean beef to make beef tea. When she was at her worst the local band, playing, followed by a multitude shouting, passed by of deliberation, on the road not fifty yards from the bedroom windows. After the lady’s death her husband dart d not ask anyone around to supply him with a coffin or and of the funeral requisites Ho had to send over forty miles for the coffin and hearse and whatever else was needed, that the remains might bo taken to the railway station for burial in a distant county. While tho lady was in health and strength her generosity was experienced by every distressed family within her reach.”

The usual fortnighrly meeting of the Ashburton Borough Council will bo held this evening.

Services in the interests of foreign missions were conducted at the Wesleyan Church yesterday by the Itev Q. W. J. Spence, of Oamaru. In the morning Mr Spence preached an instructive sermon from the forty-seventh chapter of Ezekiel, verse 9—" And everything shall live whither the river oometh.” The rise, progress and virtures of Christianity wore severally dwelt upon, and the sermon was listened to by a large and evidently appreeia • tive congregation. Last evening Mr Spenoo preached again from the text—“ I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” and the rev gentleman will with other speakers address a public missionary meeting this evening at the Wesleyan Chnrohr. A Farmer’s Dinner in connection with th Ashburton County|iHunt|Glub will be held at® the Commercial Hotel on Tuesday, August 3. We have been requested to direct attention to an error' which appears in some of the tickets of admission; Friday, August 3 has beenjprinted in place of Tuesday, August 3. The proposal to hold a grand conversazione in Parliamentary Buildings, in aid of the sufferers by the volcanic eruptions, has been abandoned, owing to the want of unanimity amongst the members of the Legislature when granting the use of the Chambers.

Private telegrams state that the barque Chasca, which put into Sydney on her voyage from New York to Wellington, is so damaged that it is doubtful if (he can be repaired. The Wellington agents have received information to the same effect, and also that probably the cargo is damaged.

The documents and most of the jewellery belonging to Mrs Wakefield stolen from Mr Hall’s at Fapanui house were found on Friday in a paddock belonging to a farmer named Haokett. The boxes had not been concealed, but bad been broken open and some articles of jewellery taken.

Persons who may be desirous of taking u;

land under the Village Special Settlement Regulations are invited to meet Mr J. B. March at the Ashburton County Council office, at 7.30 p.m. on|Thursday next. At the R.M. Conr* morning, before Mr T. Bullock, .1 i , u tirst offender for having been drunk while • -i .ga of a horse was fined 20s and costs, with the alternative of 48 hours’ imprisonment.

The annual Ashburton Volunteer Ball will be held in the Oddfellows’ Hall to-morrow evening, andjpromises to be a highly successful affair.

The Ashburton hounds met at Messrs Upton and Bussell’s Sherwood estate on Saturday afternoon. The weather was very inclement, and {there was only a small attendance of the regular followers. The hounds threw off close to the homestead, and soon found a hare, but puss ran straight for the plantation, where dozens of hares jumped up, and bunting was impossible. Several short unsatisfactory runs made up the day’s sport. The owners of the estate had gone to a great deal of trouble in preparing the country, and they entertained the visitors with characteristic hospitality. Amongst the field we noticed Messrs Campbell and Bandall (from Christchurch), Messrs Upton, Bussell, Merewether, Sawle, Patterson (2), Brown, Wynn-Williams, W. F. Allen, and Wroughton.