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South Canterbury Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1881.

SECOND EDITION

Ir is rumored that Sir George Grey intends proceeding South to address meetings against the Representation Bill. He has great power oyer the multitude, but he would find it a hard matter to convince any intelligent man in Canterbury and Otago that those two provincial districts are less capable of exercising political power than Nelson and Westland. We have already mentioned that according to population Nelson has close on four times the representation of Canterbury. For Nelson and Otago the ratio is about eleven to four. On a basis of production and revenue the disproportion is even more glaring. These are strong bard facts. Si.r George Grey has unbounded confidence in the power of his tongue, and, some people unkindly say, an intense contempt for the.understanding of the masses. By all means let Sir George come South, and tell the settlers of Canterbury and Otago that they have no right to an equal voice in the government of the colony with those of Nelson and Westland. After such a stumping tour one would be able to estimate the power which Sir George Grey exercises over the “ great unwashed,” if there are any such in this colony. It has been urged against the working classes in all countries that they are as fickle as the wind. Sir George Grey’s tour would afford a test of their capacity and intelligence in New Zealand. Our own opinion is, and always has been, that the working classes of this colony are as enlightened as any section of the community. It is to them that Sir George Grey specially addresses himself. All things considered, a stumping tour in the South

Island against the Representation Bill would not eventuate in a success. Sir Tleorge Grey would return to Welling-ton-with a much smaller idea of his power to sway the multitude. The fact is, Sir George Grey is nearly played out. His action on the Representation Bill has precipitated his descent. That ho should ever contemplate addressing audiences in Canterbury and Otago on the subject bespeaks a lamentable ignorance of public opinion in the South Island. The Nelson members have recognised that they are fighting a losing battle. They are now content that the disfranchisement should come by degrees. They object to sudden death. In the House yesterday Mr Hursthouse said that Nelson would agree to lose members under a gradual process. It is a personal as well as a provincial fight. Sir William Fox said most truly that the object was a selfish one. The Nelson members are fighting for their own scats. If any one of them refused to join the “ stonewallers ” there would be no earthly chance of his being returned at the next election. What has Nelson gained by its undue amount of representation in the past ? As far as public works expenditure is concerned, absolutely nothing. There have been innumerable indignation meetings in Nelson, protesting that the provincial district did not obtain a fair share of loans. Indeed, that has been used as an argument that its disproportionate number of members in the House of Representatives should be continued. Nelson, it was urged, had been deprived of an equitable proportion of the Public Works expenditure, ami now it was sought to lower her dignity by dispossessing her of political power. However, it was not the fault of the Nelson members that their provincial district did not get a few millions out of the loans. As it was, they obtained more than was good for the colony. The railways constructed in Nelson have not been profitable transactions to the State. For a considerable time after they wore opened they did not pay working expenses. The people of Nelson believe that they were unjnst'y treated in the past, and that the Representation Bill is the crowning injury. With regard to public works there were material reasons which debarred Nelson from obtaining a large expenditure. There has been an immense amount of log-rolling in the Assembly, and some of the Nelson members have been the most shameful log-rollers in the House ; but no amount of logrolling could induce Parliament to vote money for the construction of railway lines over barren mountain tops and through uninhabited regions. For the past seven or eight years there has been one long continuous wail from Nelson about the trilling Government expenditure in the provincial district. The settlers, doubtless, hope that matters will be mended in the future. To deprive them of four members would weaken them in the scramble for public money. In justice to the Nelson members, it must be said that they are not all jealous of the proposals to increase the power of Canterbury in the House, of Representatives. They much prefer Canterbury to Auckland. They are quite willing that this provincial district should get increased representation, if it could be obtained otherwise than at the expense of Nelson. They refuse to recognise any principle in the matter, and they fail to see the inconvenience which would arise from constantly increasing the number of representatives in the House. It is quite probable that during the next twenty years the colony will double its population. The increase will not lie proportionate in all districts. It is obvious that to meet the varying circumstances of the several parts recourse must be had from time to time to a readjustment ol the representation. The present Bill recognises the population basis. Nelson will be the first to suffer under the application of the principle. In a few years it may be the turn of other districts. Nelson may be aroused from its sleep in the meantime, and may enter upon the work of colonization. In that case, its population may have so largely increased as to entitle it to greater political power.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/SCANT18810902.2.7

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2637, 2 September 1881, Page 2

Word count
Tapeke kupu
971

South Canterbury Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1881. South Canterbury Times, Issue 2637, 2 September 1881, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1881. South Canterbury Times, Issue 2637, 2 September 1881, Page 2

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