PARLIAMENTARY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2620, 13 August 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. Wellington, Aug. 12. The Council met at 2.30 p.m. NOTICE OE MOTION. Mr Reynolds gave notice to more — “ That the Members of the Council should fairly represent the different districts in proportion to representation in the Lower House.” BILLS. The Timaru Mechanics’ Institute Bill was read a third time, and the Dentists Act 1880 Amendmend Bill a second time. On the Speaker’s casting vote, the Waitara Harbor Loan Bill was postponed until it is known what the Lower House will do with the Now Plymouth Harbor Works.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. representation bill. Mr Hall moved the second reading of the Representation Bill. He said the present Bill had been rendered necessary by the progress of the colony in population. The Bill deals first with the number of representatives and second with the distribution of the representation. Regarding the lirst a wide difference of opinion existed. The basis they should gef upon was to make the House suit the constituencies, and not the constituencies the House, and, having done so, then to regulate the number according!}'. The danger of a small House was that it gave individual votes too much importance. Then again too large a House meant a waste

of time and money too large in proportion to the population. It meant, also, that they were almost bound to have an inferior class of men. He believed New Zealand could well afford to provide a hundred good men and true for representative purposes. The number proposed under this Bill was 91. He quoted figures to show that the proposed increase still left the representation less in proportion to population than it had pre viously been, In 1857 the population of the colony was 32,000, and they had 37 members, which gave one member to every 870 of the population ; in 860 the population was 83,000, and the number of members 53, or one to every 1500 of population ; in 1805, the population was 200,000, and the members 70, or one for every 3300 of population, in 1874 the population was 375,000, with 84, or one for 4400 of the population ; and at present the population was 500,000, and the proportion was 91 members, being one to every 5400 of the population. Population he argued was the only true basis for representation, subject, however, to certain modifying considerations. About the Maori population different opinions existed. The condition of that race was so exceptional that it was necessary the representation should be on a different basis. A large proportion did not acknowledge our laws, and the remainder did not pay taxes to the extent of Europeans. As long as they did not obey our laws or pay taxes, they had no right to representation. He claimed that the Bill was a fair and just one, and hoped no mere local consideration would be adopted to mar its progress. He moved its second reading. Mr Gisborne moved as an amendment —“(1) That the basis of population alone in the distribution of representation is not suitable to the requirements of the colony; (2) that the principle of dividing the whole colony into single electoral districts was unsatisfacton r .” Population was not under all circumstances, a sound basis. For example, in Taranaki they had had for a considerable time a body of Constabulary. These men could not fairly be included as population in apportioning representation, yet these 300 men were counted in determining the representation Taranaki was entitled to. The adult male population on the gold fields largely predominated. Adult males were in ninety cases out of the hundred the sole taxpayers, and as such they deserved an exceptionally largo share of the representation. Then again, the industry and productive powers of the country ought to be estimated. He quoted the export returns to prove that during the last fifteen years Otago had produced the largest amount of wealth, Canterbury next, the West Coast of the Middle Island being the next. He strongly condemned the system of single electorates as unjust to minorities. What was wanted was an elastic system of representation to adjust itself to the varying circumstances of the colony. Sir George Grey argued that the population of Great Britain had never been fairly represented, and that the effort to provide representation in proportion to population in this colony would avert many of the ills under which New Zealand suffered. He attached little consequence to this Bill. He would much rather see them all join in a grand struggle to obtain the right to frame their own Constitution, and having gained that right, frame their laws in a way that it would not be possible for these laws and reforms to be thrown out by a mere nominated body r . Respecting the Bill before them, lie would support it without spirit, looking upon it merely as a step in the right direction, begun at the wrong end.

Sir William Fox could recollect the time when the people of New Zealand were arrayed on one side and the previous speaker on the other, struggling to obtain the smallest particle of political liberty, and yet they could not thwart the action of the Member for the Thames. He thought the Bill was in the right direction. The single electorate went in the right direction, and tended to localise representation more than it could be under the existing system. The Bill as a whole would be a step in the right direction. Mr Sheehan charged the preceding speaker with political inconsistency, in having been returned to favor provincialism, whereas, on his accession to power, hewas instrumental in subverting that system. The Bill before the House was Sir George Grey’s and his party’s Bill, and but for him and that party they never would have had the measure now put before them. He denied that the people had lost confidence in Sir George Grey, and he warned them that the forthcoming elections would prove the fact. The colon}’ recognised in Sir George Grey, a man who had the benefit of a reputation on his side, and it was one of the greatest follies on earth for Sir William Fox to think about wiping him out. He could not sec his way at present to support the Bill. They had at present a taxable population in the North Island of •15,000 Maoris who were excluded from the basis proposed by the Bill. On the population basis the North Island ought to have at least six more members. Mr Collins intimated his intention of voting against the Bill. He denied that it was asked for by the colony as a whole, though he admitted a few political beggars had asked for something of the kind.

Mr Hursthouso also intimated his intention of voting against the Bill, the proposals of which ho complained were most unfair to Nelson.

Mr Moss spoke against the Bill. Mr Hurst also spoke strongly against the Bill as most unjust to Auckland and the North generally, which had already suffered sulliciently from southern iule.

Mr Gibbs moved the adjournment of the debate till Monday, and the House rose at 1.5 a.m.