WELLINGTON POLITICAL GOSSIP.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 18 May 1901, Page 4

WELLINGTON POLITICAL GOSSIP.

An Attack on Mr Hutcheson.

Parliamentary Representation

Wellington, May 13,

Mr Earnshaw, who bade his southern constituents a historically warm farewell a few years back, made a furious attack on Mr Hutcheson, in the Press. He says ho deeply feels for Captain Eussell in such a wanton attack upon his honour and hi* distinguished career, and satirically refers to Messrs Hutcheson and A. E, Atkinson, M.H.E.’s, as aspirants for the leadership.

Mr F. Pirani’s paper says the increase in population in the North Island as compared with the South will revolutionise the representation in Parliament after the next election if the system of representation according to population with an allowance to rural districts is to be adhered to. At present there are thirtysix pakcha members in the House and one Maori for the South Island, and thirty-four pakeha and three Maoris for the North Island. As the pakeha representation is based upon the principle of population, and as there will be six additional representatives in the next Parliament, it is almost certain that there will be thirty-seven for the South Island, and thirty-nine for the North, or an increase of five members for the North, It is almost certain that two of these members will be apportioned to the Wellington province and district, although there will be little alteration in the Palmerston electorate, with the exception perhaps of the lopping off of some outside portions.