GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

Evening Star, Issue 3562, 23 July 1874, Page 2

GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

[By Telegraph.]

Wellington, July 22, Mr Kelly placed in the bands of the clerk an article reflecting upon his character as a member, printed iu the ‘ New Plymouth Advertiser.’ He explained the circumstances which called forth the charges, and asserted that they were devoi lof truth, ife made a motion, so as to give any member of ths House, having any doubt upon the matter, an opportunity to make further inquiry. Mr Vogel thought that, if the House took up all the statements appearing in newspapers, they would be undertaking a task out of all proportion to the results likely to flow from it. He would not recommend the House to make a practice of interfering with matters of this kind. If hon members felt that their feputajiiop was injured, their best remedy was to inyqke tjie assistance of the civil law. —The matter then dropped. Mr Mervyn asked the intention of the Government in reiereuge to deepening the Sludge Channel at Naseby, in accordance with the recommendation of the Provincial authorities of Otago.—Mr Riohardsou said the Government was not in a position to comply with the recommendation.

Mr Pyke asked the Minister for Public Works whether his attention had been directed to the prohibition by the Southland Waste Land Board of exportation beyond the boundaries of Southland of railway sleeper* and other timber : if the Government approved of the prohibition: if not. whether they will take action to relieve the timber trade of Southland from the vexatious restriction imposed by the Board.—-Mr Kichardaon said that the Government did uot approve of the course pur-ued by the Southland Government, and were then giving the matter their serious considers,tion. The only way to deal with laud

was by a short enactment, and he saw no reason why the SouthlandG overmuent shonld object.

Mr Sheehan moved, “ That it is desirable a readjustment of representation in this House should be made, to take effect at the next general elections, and that the Government should take into consideration the question du ing the recess, with a view of the preparation of a properly-matured measure, to be submitted to the House at its next session.” He did not think it desirable to increase the number of representatives of the House, but thought the representation of the Colony required readjustment. It had been said that the effect would be to increase the representative power of Auckland at the expense of the other Provinces of the Colony; but, if her population and contribution to consolidated revenue entitled her to more representation, she ought to have it. He did not put the question from a narrow point of view. He held that the inequality of the representation in several of the Provinces was self-evident. intimating the representative power of the different Provinces \ow they liked, they must see that Taranaki \»°n- ** teduced one or two members, and Wellington one. There was ne doubt these Provinces were ever-represented as compared with Auckland or the constituencies of the West Coast of the Middle Island. The hon. member quoted from a speech of Mr O’Connor on the same question during a previous seasion, while he held that the Government was right in refusing the demand for readjustment when they did, as it' was at the request of a single constituency : but now the circumstances of the Colony were greatly changed—its population immensely increased —and it was the obvious duty of the Governmeat, on the eve of a new Parliament, to prepare a measure for redistribution before next session, so that the next Parliament might have the benefit of the change, as the present system was a delusion and a sham.— Mr Vogel said that, while the hon. member had taken great pains in getting up the statistics, he forgot that the decision upon the matter was based upon the numbers of members which the House considered each Province was to have as compared with the others. It was quite notorious that Taranaki or Weilington, as compared with Hawke’s Bay. had more members than it seemed justified in having either by area or proportion : but still the House, in 1870, had deemed it wise to adjust it so, and it was singular to notice the amount of unanimity then displaced. The arguments used by hon. members were all old, and the sole object of his remarks appeared to be to secure larger representation for the rrovmee of Auckland. But if this were granted m the case of Auckland, they would have other Provinces which had advanced since 1870 a gr. at deal more than

Auckland, asking for more reprssentation: and if that were carried out according to the views ©f the hon. member, the probability was that Aucklaud would be asked to give up some of her members to adjust the amount of representation. Generally he could not think that anything was to be gained from the moUon of the hon. gentleman. It was not likely that the Bouse would grant an increased representation to Auckland now, when it was refused to her before when she was in almost as advanced a state. As for anomalies of representation, it would always be found, for no hard-and-fast lines could ever be followed in the adjustment of suoh a question. For instance, Wellington and Dunedin were represented by two members each, while Auckland had three; and yet everyone knew that Dunedin was • the more important city, Looking at the question from the point of view that new arrivals in the Colony required representation, he did not consider it wise to introduce immigrants tor the purpose of allowing them to govern you. He thought the present number of members in the House quite sufficient. The only way in which the members could manage the question was to give and take a member here and there. He could assnra hon. members that it would be impossible to get members to consider the question from au entirely new basis. They would always take into calculation the last decision upon the matter, ihe Government, however, did not wish to evade the question in any way. hey were quite willing to consider it during the recess. He would move the previous question.