THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1866.

Grey River Argus, Issue 107, 18 September 1866, Page 2

THE Grey River Argus. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1866.

Wii; are glad to find that steps have been adopted both here and at Hokitika to assist Mr Moorhouse in carrying his Bill "for the increased representation of Westland in the GeneraP Assembly, by means of a petitioii.to the House. We informed our- readers in our last, issue that Mr Moorhouse had sent a telegraphic message, stating that he had introduced a bill, and, despite consider^ able opposition had, beei\ allowed to have it read, the first time. The very unusual course which the House appears to have taken in offering opposition to the bill at its. earliest stage, was a suffi. cient indication of the necessity of some strong expression of public opinion being brought to bear in support of, the measure, - ?nd it- was Mr Moorhouse's recommendation that a petition should., be sent up without delay. As tner^'.

was not time to convene a public meet- 1 ing here, the Improvement Committee 'held a special meeting on Saturday to consider Mr Moorhouse's message, and to draw up a form of petition to the House, to be submitted for the signal natures of the inhabitants, . A memorial was adopted, and steps undertaken to haye it circulateel for signature. We are glad to state tha,t in a few hours upwards of 300 signatures were obtained, and we hope that a great many mpre will have- been -addeel before the petition is foiwarded to=day. At Hokitika a public meeting was con r veued, and prompt measures y/eve taken for carrying out Mr Moorhouse's wish with respect .tp a petition, so we may reasonably hope that with the great moral support which a public petition will give him, he will be able to carry his bill through its final stages, We may mention that My Moorhouse proposes to give one member each tq the towns of Hpkitika anel Crreymouth, and another -for the general district if possible. He does not however anticipate that the House will under any circumstances give more than the two. It does not require any argument for us to shpw hoAv very important it is for the interests of the cpmniunity thaV the district should enjoy a larger representation in the General^ Assembly. Apart from the positive injustice dor,e to the standing of the district by the inferior position Westland is made to oc-jupy in the Colonial Parliament as compared with less impoitant communities, the most serious con., sequences are 1 constantly likely tq arisefroni tlie want of adequate representation, Wostland is now one of the most important portions of the Colony, in population, trade, and revenue. Its contributions to the Colonial Treasury exceed in their proportion to the popu_ lation those of' any other elistrict, aud indeed have materially altered the iinani cial condition of the Colony, and been a chief cause in renderiug unnecessary the largely increased measure of taxation which otherwise the people of New Zealand generally w,ould have been compelled to submit to, It is therefore only just that, the district should have a voice in the Legislating something proportionate to tb,e magnitude " of its interests, We have little doubt that with the public support Mr Moorhouse has obtained he will be able to carry his bill to a successful issue. Under any circumstances he is entitled to the thanks of his constituents •for his attention to their interests in this important matter. Should he be successful we may lodk forward with the hope that the next session of the Assembly Avill see Westland occupying a positron of influence in the House. Although Mr Moorhouse is undoubtedly a most valu. able member, he is but a unit, and can. not be expected to give that amount of attention to tlie affairs of the district which their multifarious anel special character demands. By the tinie at which the next session' of the General Assembly will commence, we may expect that 'great changes will have occurred in Westland. There is -every reason to anticipate that the present considerable population will have" been almost doubled, and that a proportionate increase in the trade and revenues of the district will have been established. Many special subjects for legislation and general questions of serious importance to the interests of the district "will arise, which make it necessary that Westlaml should- be adequately represented. And we trust that should the additional representation be gvantedj there will be found men ready and able to accept and discharge its responsibilities.