The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1879.

Manawatu Times, Volume III, Issue 30, 19 February 1879, Page 2

The Manawatu Times. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1879.

Notwithstanding the sneer indulged m by "the official mouthpiece of the Ministry, we are no means shaken ih our opinion that the next Session of Parliament will not only witness a dissolution, but will see the members of the Grey Ministry relegated to the cold shades of Opposition. In a previous article we pointed out the necessity which existed for a readjustment of the representation allotted to each elec:torate, and as time wags on the difference becomes more disproportionate • butjn no constituency will it be more marked and gldrin'g'tbah m the Manawatu. Un fortunately, we have not any statistics of the number of voters m the various electorates whereby to draw comparisons, but we make bold to say that, both with regard to the number of electors and tbe number of population, Manawatu is fairly entitled to claim two members. Upon the last publication of the electoral 'roilthere'were 1546 voters, and according to the Census return Manawatu bad a population of 5728, being 2043 m excess of its.neighbor, "Rangitikei: ' "While we 'have very good reason to doubt' the accuracy of the-eleetoral-roll) we have proof positive tliat* the Census return for this County was 1 by no ; means a reliable or satisfactory document, and j udging by r, the number added on to the population of Palmerston, the 5728 should more borreetly be set down at about 7000 to 8000., Day by day new settlers are pouring into Eeildiligapd Palmerston, and week: by;-wee^.isjes^ew/tow wh&re but a few" monj-Ks before nought was' heard _*s(s«_,tlie Laxe of the busEmanr A mohtli since'ahd*'^ the latest offshootf roni the parent stem, but *now another claimaut has come upon the scene, and Cheltenham rflnks as the youngest offspring of Manawatu. In a County such as this, whose career is so progressive;^ would be impossible to give a direct 'estimate of the number of inhabitants ; but that it can consistently lay; chum^b'ddal representation^' none will dare deny. TheJ^airarapa, which is stationary m- 'its' progress ~to. use a paradox ■— when compared ; s s6 Manawatu, has- two representatives, white? the total number of its inhititants is barely 8000 — men, wpmeni and children. A more flagrant' instafticey however, is that of Nelson City, wltich sends two members to the iHqufs&^f Representatives, although thjti number of sculs is only 6603. Wanganui, veo- - 7properly, bas two members; still its population does not exceed-, 773&:'7*yv'<j. could: quote innumerable instances of , tne -unaccQuntabl^disproportion, but more particularly jn the smaller constituencies, some of which enjojr $he franchise and return their members to the House, whiieVtbe total- number of voters is actua^yibelo w 200 . Although it may, seem invidious to draw comparisonsyb.etween.tli'e'growth of thiil.and the sister County, the manner m which Manawatu .has shot ahead df her northern rival of Bangitikei must have made itself.apparg*i^ to every one. Ten years ago, Ppx.on . \*?as the. only town m the. County noftl>'Of,tbe Manawatu. Palnlerston, and' feilding, and Halcombe, and Sanson, and; .^ghTiurst-were hot" only unheard <>ff>/j)u;b. unthought of. Now, the two former count their residents by four, figures, while the others are nobly following m .their wake. Look on the other side, of >? .tlie picture. A decade ago both id"artbn.tind,;Bulls-— the only .two places.. in .Raugitikei now having .the slightest .pretensions ,tb townships — were places of considerable irhportance ; ";But.,"at tbe. p.yesen't day, while either Palmerston of Teildhig can outnumber yfartbh two to one,:' ' Bulls, is retrogrjjid-' ing. m the race. A great future is before Manawatu, and providing a judicious wisdom be exercised m the land opened up for settlement,, fpr every .hundred settlers her^e; to-day, m ten years from hence ,'_hers£wijfrbe a thousand. The Ministry^ JJi^^riiament, arid the Colony, b^/moreyparticularly those of the Wellington Provincial District, fully recognise the grand capacity which* is to be found westof the Tararua Ranges, andy the people of Wellington City have pinned their faith to the vast'ad vantages they will reap' 'from the West Coast." Such an important and progressive diS- ; tHct ■ should, then, have two representatives to battle' fdr' its rightsrand <sd*iserye its. interests.' This is a matter u'pSn'wbibb settlers frotn all pdrts of the-^'Cphnty can .join issne, one which materially af-ccts i it , _ welfare, and about which ''there should' be; rib division m opiuio'n or dissentf-b^. ' In' a' Colony like this, wliere towns and districts are made m a month, a frequent rertajiistment of '■'■ representation is necessar^r ; ' for while 'some towns spring up witb Aladdin-like rapidity, 'others fade "'.-Way, if not with •equal 'celerity, at alb events with unerring certainty, As an instance of the - fir/iti we^may take- Ashburton, m ■Canterbury ; a'tt-I xrfh th.e_ 'latter, Hokitiki.

Three years since one might stand upon the platform of the station and count every honse m Ashburton ; whilst for every year during that period it has added not less than a thousand to its population. As a reverse, take Hokitika. Once the premier gold field town ' of New Zealand, m the plenitude and height of its glory it had two members ; now, when it is but the wreck of its former greatness, it stands precisely upon tbe same footing m the matter of representation. In conclusion, then, we would urge every person m the County entitled to vote to" see that they are properly registered, so that when the struggle comes they will be able to select the best man or men — those who will be acquainted with the wants of the County, and give good proof that they not only possess that knowledge, but are a prepared to put it to good effect.