The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5351, 22 May 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 1878.

On the subject of the representation of the people of this bolony in Parliament,, there are now before the public two projects- for the settlement of the franchise; , the one, that of the Prime Minister, Sir George i Grey, the other that of his colleagues, / as developed . by the Hon. the Minister for Public Education, ; Mr. Ballanoe, at his date meeting with his constituents; at [Marton.' : These two projects or policies are, as we 11 have shown, fundamentally ditlbreut. Manhood suffrage, with one vote only, • tempered by twelve ‘ months’ .residence, is the simple platform of the man Of the people. In the scheme of bis colleagues all the existing qualifications;; property,, freehold or. leasehold,: hoiise j t hold, the lodger franchise, and the - rate-, payer franchise, are proposed to bo retained as theynow exist. The miner’s right franchise alone is to be abolished, and for it is to be substituted manhood suffrage, tempered by the qualification of'two years’ residence, by registration, and by an educational test, not, it is true, of a very severe character,—the capacity to write one’s name. When Ministers are able to get together it is possible that a fusion of the rival projects maj r be accomplished; but it may be said to be at least new to colonial politics for Ministers' to parade differences in opinion among themselves upon large questions, and to appeal publicly to" the people directly in support of. their respective views, before the question itself had been submitted in a concrete form for the consideration of _ the representatives ' of the people. Wo dpi not think, .that the fact that the Cabinet; are . the representatives of the minority in the General Assembly will be held sufficient to excuse this very strange departure from constitutional practice.; There is, however, a phase of the question of the franchise which neither the Greyitbs nor, if we may venture without offence to coin a word, the Ballangers appear to have thought, worthy of any attention. How the franchise is to be used is probably of not less public importance than the question, of who are to exorcise it. Is the power of : the majority to be absolute, and’ must the minority have no voice in the determination of public questions or iri the doing of public acts, from a share in the responsibility for, or from the dangers of, which they, the minority, cannot escape ? Supposing the whole number of electors in the colony to bo one .hundred thousand and one, and supposing that a great question, such ns the; change in the,incideiicoof taxation, or the difference between Ministers on the subjectof the franchise, were submitted, npona dissolution, for their decision, and that fifty thousand voted oil’one side and fifty thousand and one on the bppositeSide; the odd man kicks the “ballahce,’’nnd themajorityofone, as representing the “popular will,” rules. The fifty *thousand voters on (he other side are : thus politically extinguished, This is of course an extreme .case, but it may, not unfairly we think, be used to illustrate the situation, and show broadly how the opinions and tho needs' of a minority may bo left unrepresented in tho Council of the colony. Of the manifest unfairness and wrongfnhiqss of such a condition of things there can be no doubt. The discovery of the best mode ! of obviating this unfairness and. wrongfulness, and: of providing in some way for the representation of minorities,' has long engaged the attention of statesmen and of political writers. Of the many schemes which have: been projected in this view that which is known as Hare’s system, which has been before the public’for several years, has stood tho test of the severest criticism. Although in practice,—excepting in Denmark where a .method somewhat similar . has been operative,—it has not yet been applied upon a scale which might be described as national, indications are not wanting that the time is at hand when its’principles and processes will bo generally recognised as the fittest for giving a true proportional representation of an electorate. The question of proportional representation was, brought up, for discussion;in the House of Commons on the Bth March last by Mr. Blbnnerhasseti upon: a . resolution affirming, “That it is desirable “ that the whole electoral body should be “ enabled to enjoy that direct represbnta“tion which is at present‘confined !to ! “ majorities; that no effectual security “exists for the duo representation of “ minorities ; and that as far as possible “all opinions should have an opportunity “ of boing represented in .direct propertion to the number of electors by .whom “ they are hold.”. In moving the resolution Mr, Blennerhassetx made an interesting and able speech ; but after some discussion the House was counted out, and the question shelved for the present, Tho subject is one of very great importance here in view of that democratic

extension of the suffrage which is proposed by the head of the Government, and we shall have occasion to return to it. It has* hot, iis will bo seen hereafter, escaped the [attention of the late Government, who hoped, we believe, to be able, by some modification, and adaptation of the principles of Mr; Hake’s system to our local conditions, to provide the means for securing a full and fair representation kof all the people of New Zealand, and to. give to the elected House the true characteristics of, a colonial, and not of a parish, Parliament. ‘