The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1881.

Kumara Times, Issue 1538, 1 September 1881, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1881.

There is no reason why Knmara should be behind the rest of the illtreated portions of the colony in uttering a formal and distinct protest against the gross injustice proposed to be perpetrated under that most obnoxious measure, the Representation Bill, now before Parliament. Nelson has spoken, and with no uncertain sonnd, in utter condemnation of the Government proposals, Hokitika has followed suit, indignation meetings are being convened in many other places, and Kuraara should no longer maintain aiience, particularly when it is found that the Premier has given notice of a series of resolutions which will, if carried, have the effect of stifling debate, and prohibiting argument. The Government have placed themselves in a singular and almost ridiculous position, for we positively find that one of their own whips is one of the leading " stonewallers." Such a state of things is utterly unprecedented in the history of any of the colonies, and sufficiently shows the strong feeling which must exist against the conduct of the Government, and the most arbitrary line of policy they are pursuing. There are two things to which we should direct special attention. The first is that the interests of the West Coast, and of this constituency in particular, aie directly

attacked by tbe proposed reduction in the number of members in this part of the colony ; and the second is that the liberties of the colony as a whole are most unjustifiably assailed by the most outrageous attempt to give to Otago and Canterbury combined a voting power which will place tbe rest of New Zealand entirely at their mercy. So far as we are individually concerned, there can be no question but that we are being most foully treated. At the present time, the goldfields representation is ridiculously small, and the voices of mining representatives are in a most deplorable minority; but in the future things will be ten times worse than ever. Virtually, no one but squatters, farmers, and the residents in the large towns will have a voice at all in the legislation of the colony, or in the disposal of its revenue. Otago and Canterbury (always grab-alls) will at once exercise the power placed in their hands, choose their own Ministries, and divide the revenue into two equal parts, each of the favored provincial districts taking one-half. We most emphatically protest against the proposals of the Government to disfranchsse more than two-thirds of the colony, and suggest that a public meeting should be convened forthwith, to enable electors to express an opinion as to what is being done in the House of Representatives.