The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, APRIL 5.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 493, 5 April 1881, Page 2

The Akaroa Mail. TUESDAY, APRIL 5.

Duai-ia this recess members have not been in haste to address their constituents. In fact very few have yet spoken. It is probable, however, that the silence will now be broken, and that there will be a perfect deluge of addresses durind the next six weeks. That it is the duty of members to meet their constituents, and give an account of their stewardship is admitted by all. Constituents expect tlieir members not only to state the course they adopted when important questions were, before the House, hut also their reason for so doing ; and they expect to receive clear statements of the intentions of their members on questions likely to be brought on for consideration the next Session. A mere narative of past events will not, and should not, satisfy any constituency. But it must be confessed that before members can be expected to give anything like distinct utterances on questions future legislation, they should know the object and scope of such questions. Mere desultory opinions uttered by three or four score members in different parts of the country on an infinite variety of questions, many of which may not be embodied in a Bill for years, is only a waste of breath to the weariness of the listeners. The work to be done next Session is the all important thing.

We are led to make these remarks because we are under the impression that many members have refrained from speaking, expecting to hear the Ministerial programme. Now we consider nothing could be more advantageous to the country than an early statement by a Minister of the measures to be submitted to Parliament when the Assembly meets. The only Minister who has spoken is Major Atkinson. His speech was principally composed of explanations of his past conduct. He did touch on future measures but only as a feeler. What is wanted now is a statement of tho principle measures intended to be introduced n.>xt Session. The advantage to the country would be that tho

measures could be considered by those who will be affected by them —the people. The members when addressing their constituents could give their views and ascertain the opinions of the people in tlieir districts. We do not say or think or one moment that a member should be a delegate, but it would be of infinite service to the public if the members could take counsel with his constituents. How is he to do that, if the measure, are, and will be, unknown uutil after Parliament meets ? We hoped and expected that the Premier would have addressed his constituents before hisreturn to Wellington. The people of Canterbury especially are anxious to know what is the intention of the Ministry with respect to a Bill for the redistribution of seats. They wish to know on what basis the Government intend to form tbe Bill. Whether on the basis of population, on wealth, or on contribution to the revenue. The importance of this question is second to none. It stands in the front rank. If the basis is to be population then Canterbury, is at least five members short of the number ; if by contribution to the revenue, by say Property Tax, seven more members would be required.

That this is a most important question to Canterbury we can understand, when the voting power of provincial districts in the House is taken into consideration. The weak are ..lways despised in the field of politics. Canterbury's railways leave a net profit of neatly 7 per cent, on the cost, or 2 per cent, above the rate of interest. The railways in the other provincial districts pay not more in the whole than 1-| or 2 per cent. The Property tax was imposed avowedly to pay the interest on the cost of public works ; and if it can be shown that the Canterbury railways pay more than the interest, it is evident that the contribution from Property tax levied in Canterbury goes to make up deficiencies in other districts of the Colony. Does any person believe this would be the state of things if Canterbury had her fair share of voting power in the House ?

Again, there is the question of education. What are the intentions of the Ministry respecting this ? Major Atkinson stated that he did not think the Act should be altered this session ; but what will the Ministry do if some independent member introduces a bill to effect a change ? Will the Ministry make it a Government or an open question ? We want authoritative utterance from the Premier on these and other other questions, and we require these formal declarations in sufficient time before the commencement of the session, that the people of the Colony may give them due consideration before their members go to Wellington. We therefore trust the Ministry will take the people of the Colony into their confidence, and that the Premier will state the policy of the (. overnment on an early day. If he does not, and instead of giving timely notice of that policy he puts off his meeting till the eve of the meeting of the Assembly, the constituencies will be unable to consider the measures and give expression to their opinions. We have had too much of surprise legislation. Wg earnestly hope that the people and the press of the Colony will have time given for criticism, for approval or disapproval of the measures intended to be introduced by Government next Session.