THE REPRESENTATION BILL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1314, 13 August 1886, Page 3

THE REPRESENTATION BILL.

[From the Mail ] The position of matters with respec 1 to the Representation Bill is a mos peculiar one, as is evidenced by the division of Friday evening upon the question of the adjournment of the debate. Ministers on that occasion only carried their point by a majority of one, and that against their own supporters, the entire Government party, save two or three, Ministeis themselves excepted, voting for the adjournment, while Ministers and almost the whole of the Opposition walked into the “ No” lobby. We observe that a number of North Island journals are endeavoring to persuade their readeis that the, hostility shown to the Bill proceeds from the unwillingness of South Island members to concede additional representation to the North, because this will involve a corresponding numerical loss on the part of the South. On this assumption these papers are denouncing the action of Southern members in no measured terms, as being not only dangerous, but unjust, and a breach of faith ; as being contrary to the principle accepted and the pledges given when, on the occasion ol the last redistribution the posilion was the reverse of the present, and additional representation was granted to the South on the ground of preponderance of population. But this is not all the reason of the opposition to the Bill, for from enquiries we have made we find that the great bulk of Southern members loyally accept the necessary results of the census, and are perfectly willing to adjust the representation in accordance therewith by taking from the South its excess of members, and making up the deficiency of the North. The real reason for the opposition is that it is considered a gross mistake from the point of view of parly strategy to pass the Bill this year. It is patent that if the Bill be held in reserve till towards the close of next session Ministers will occupy an almost impregnable position, one which will enable them to bring down and pass important measures of public policy, which they will have little chance of passing if the representation question be first disposed of. For until that Bill has been passed no want of confidence motion would be carried, nor would any measure the rejection of which had been equivalent to a vote of want of confidence be rejected, because it would not suit the Opposition that an appeal should be made to the country and the elections conducted on the present basis of representation. This is so patent that it is not wonderful at all that those who are staunch supporters of the present Government should be unwilling that they should abandon their point of vantage. The only wonder is that the Premier should himself be so determined to throw away the keys of the position. There is much to be said for the principles of the Bill itself; indeed these have been pretty generally accepted by the House, and there will be no objection to the second reading being taken as an affirmation of those principles, but those who desire to prevent the return to power of the Atkinson parly very properly resist its proceeding further this session. Again if the Bill be passed this year it will render a double , session next year exceedingly probable as, the representation question disposed i of, there would be a much greater 1 chance of carrying an adverse vote immediately after the assembly of the House in April or May next. We [ therefore concur with those who desire , to shelve the Bill for the present, and t shall be much interested in watching I the progress of their efforts to this end. f If the Bill be carried through all its stages this year the Opposition will r have scored a victory, not the Governt ment, for the Government Bill, if s carried, will be carried by Opposition votes.