The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1887. THE NEW REPRESENTATION BILL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1728, 6 December 1887, Page 2

The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1887. THE NEW REPRESENTATION BILL.

The Hon Major Atkinson, m the House of Representatives last night, moved the second reading of the Representation Act 1887 Amendment Bill, providing for the reduction of members to 70. In doing so, he remarked that "it was not out of any disrespect to ihe House nor from a disregard to the importance of the subject that he did not intend taking up the time of the House on the occasion." Just so, but simply because he had no arguments to advance m support of his motion, and reserved his remarks to replying to objections raised m opposition to it. These were by no means few. The Maori representatives were opposed to the reduction proposed m their number, and thought that the House had better do away with special Maori representation altogether than reduce the number of Maori representatives, Mr Seddon spoke strongly against the motion, and moved an amendment — " That further consideration of the Bill be postponed till after the financial measures of the Government are dealt with." The amendment was seconded by Mr Samuel, who said "he was sorry that the Government had |not more hope of dealing with the necessities of the colony than to bring m the Bill." Sir Tulius Yogel said the amendment raised quite a different question from that relating to the Bill. He thought that owing to the late period of the session the Premier should put the House m possession of some information as to what the course of business was to be for the remainder of the session; also when the Public Works Statement was to be brought down, as to appropriations for the jear. Sir George Grey strongly opposed the motion. He considered that the proportion of representation should be the same as that of the local self-govern-ment, which it was proposed to introduce, and if the motion was assented to before they got some new form of local self-government, they would never get such local self-government at all. He also objected to the Premier's habit of putting oft financial matters till a late stage of the session. It was all done with the deliberate intention of preventing a full discussion of the Estimates. The debate was continued till after midnight, during which it was pointed out that as the Bill could not come into operation for three years it might very well be postponed till next session, and that by such a sweeping reduction country districts would be virtually disfranchised. The only argument advanced by the Government was that the people desired it and it must be carried. A motion for adjournment was refused, the second reading agreed to on the voices, and Mr Seddon's amendment lost. Now here is a Bill which, if carried, cannot take effect for three years, and can effect no retrenchment for that period, brought m at a late period of the session when private members have been robbed of their " days." What can be the object ? It is all of a piece with Major Atkinson's policy throughI out. His big majority are bound by a pledge to support the Government until their policy has been explained by the financial measuresintroduced to give effect to it. In the meantime Major Atkinson wishes to get certain measures passed m order to stave off the evil day when his supporters shall be free from the restraint ot the pledge exacted from them and at liberty to vote as they wish. It would never do to bring forward his financial measures while there was time to discuss them. This was quite apparent to Sir George Grey as well as to others of the mere inrfe- J pendent members, and jvc venture to ; think that we have not yet heard the ] \m of the Representation Bill. . J 1