REDISTRIBUTION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 199, 22 August 1881, Page 2

REDISTRIBUTION.

To the Editor of the " Evening Mail. ' That the present Government have fairly entitled themselves to our warm and earnest ' gratitude for having rescued us from the financial slough into which we had been cast by their reckless predecessors is an obvious fact; but tbis cannot of course be received as & cover for all subsequent errors. The Redistribution Bill is a most unstatesmanlike measure. That population should be a leading guide in apportiouing representation is certainly true, but it should not be regarded as an absolute cast-iron rule. Let us look at , the manner in which theae matters are managed %at home.' There the principle is recognised that every portion of the country, and every leading interest in it must be fairly represented in the House of Commons. The particulars of the last English census are not within my reach, but I think that on a population basis only the whole of Scotland would have fewer representative! tban the metropolis alone. Now, wa know that our canny fellow subjects would not stand this —and why should we stand Bimilar treatment either ? If after every census w« aro to have redistribution, depend upon ii, the augry feelings, the jealousy, and disappointment which will inevitably result, will greatly outweigh any apparent or possible gain, and in the end will certainly bring serious trouble. Would it not be much better then to make what at any rate in the modern sense of the term might be regarded as something like a permanent arrangement ? It appears to be a pretty general opinion that ultimately the Northern Island will maintain the larger population, and my proposal would be to gi ve an equal number, of representatives to each Island. This might not at the first glance ! hi .considered favorable to Neleon, but a little consideration may correct that view In the cases supposed, Canterbury and Otago would have to court our friendship in order to secure fair and equal justice to themselves j —in short tbey would bave to treat us with ! proper consideration, instead of, as cow, with contempt. —lam,&c, R. FaEEsrAN. Hardy-Btreet, Nelson.