The Globe. WEDNESDAY JULY 3, 1878.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1367, 3 July 1878, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY JULY 3, 1878.

A few months ago wo called attention to tho important question of the redistribution of seats, and brought forward several reasons why the registered electors, and. not population, should bo tho basis of it. Our contention is that under the Reform Bill of tho Ministry, every man in tho colony who has a political existence will have his name on tho electoral roll if ho chooses. To redistribute tho scats upon the basis of tho population would bo to acknowledge that the Reform Bill had not included all who were entitled to a voice iu tho representation, anti would admit tho political existence of every member of tho community. But even the most advanced liberals do not usually maintain that women, children, and aliens should ho allowed to vote, and if they are not allowed to vote, they ought not to Jbo counted in fixing tho ilU&iher ftf Uvea fyj." each die-

trict. One example will make our meaning clear. Suppose that there were two adjoining districts containing each 1000 of a population, but in the ono there were a large number of children and aliens,‘while in the other there wore comparatively few. If population wore made (ho basis, each would return the same number of members, although there were a much larger number of qualified electors in the ono than in the other. Taking, then, for granted that this point has been settled, we come to the important question on what principle are the members to ho distributed among various electoral districts of the colony. Wo take for granted that no serious attempt will ho made to introduce . such a scheme of representation as that proposed by Hare. Wo have, in former articles, shown how completely such a plan would give every interest in the colony fair and equal representation. Judging, however, from the discussion of it in the columns of some newspapers, the principle of the Representation of Minorities is but imperfectly understood, even by many of those who profess to instruct tho public. In thoso circumstances it is idle to hope for any decided expression of public opinion in favour of the scheme. But a fair adjustment of Representation, according to districts, is surely within the reach of the colony, and tho very groat importance of it, is our excuse for again referring to the subject. In former years, when a Representation Bill was introduced into the Assembly, scenes occurred which did groat injury to the colony. Instead of going about tho settlement of the question in a calm and statesmanlike manner, the very opposite was tho case. The. members from ono district combined with those from another to secure as many seats as possible for their localities, apart altogether from auy general principle. lu those days the rivalry was between the different provinces, the members from several combining to secure more than their fair share of representation. Tho same would probably occur again, although perhaps in a slightly modified form. Is it right that such a largo question should bo left for decision upon such alliances F It is surely to be deplored that the distribution of power between tho different districts of the colony should bo made to depend upon such accidents as these. As has been pointed out by a writer on tho subject, log-rolling is mischiovious at all times, but the injury which the colony suffers from the practice in the case of a vote of money, which is usually spent and done with in ono year, is obviously greatly less than that which must ensue if the same mode of legislating bo introduced into a matter of such permanent importance as the adjustment of the representation of tho colony. Wo have already shown how such scenes can bo avoided, but, in view of the important issues at stake, propose again to discuss tho scheme iu future articles.

True to its instincts, our Cathedral square contemporary again comes to the rescue of those who drive their own equipages. Elver since the by-law regulating the driving round street corners was found to apply to others than common cabmen, our Christchurch Jenkins has displayed a remarkable aversion to tho law, and lost no opportunity of declaiming against it. It has no doubt been humiliating to those fine gentlemen, whom our contemporary delightcth to honor, to find that they could not dash round street corners in their old imposing style, without running tho risk of being stopped by a “ bobby” and afterwards of being summoned before the magistrate, but we greatly mistake tho character of our City Councillors if they are to bo intimidated by tho fear of incurring tho wrath of tho Times and its patrons from doing their duty. Christchurch docs not belong exclusively to those who drive iu carriages. Indeed, it will be admitted, that tho majority of her citizens are still forced to walk. In these circumstances, it is to bo hoped that the interests of tho majority will receive some consideration at the hands of the City Council, and, if the by-law is invalid, that another will ho passed. The lives and limbs of citizens cannot bo daily and hourly endangered in order that tho dignity of a few may be respected.