THE REPRESENTATION BILL. Wellington, Friday night. The Deadlock at an End.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 206, 11 June 1887, Page 5

THE REPRESENTATION BILL. Wellington, Friday night. The Deadlock at an End.

The deadlock came no an unexpected conclusion this afternoon. When the adjourned motion to go into Committee of Supply was called on, Major Atkinson stated that no satisfactory an*angement had been come to yet on the Representation Bill, although they differed in a very small degree. His Excellency, it appeared, was under tho impression that the House could not be called together as early as tho first of September. The majority of the House thought it could be done. He therefore proposed to move the following amendment, " That a respectful address be presented to His Excellency the Governor, informing him that this House thanks His Excellency for his message, and concurs in his opinion that the Representation Bill could be amended so as to shorten the time necessary for summoning Parliament, and this House is of opinion that immediate . steps should be taken to enable Parliament to meet not later than the Ist of September next." He thought they were all agreed that by the amendment of clauses they could so shorten the time that the House could meet by the 14th or 16th of August. The fact had been overlooked that the whole of the writs could bo issued by telegraph. The Premier said he was exceedingly anxious that the remaining business of the session should be got through as quickly as possible. He was prepared to accept the first part of tho amendment, and asked the House to amend tho latter part, striking out the first of September as the date for the reassembling of Parliament, and reading "to meet under the new Representation Act at the earliest possible moment." He asked the House to say if his proposal was unusual. He pledged himself and his colleagues to do all they could to call Parliament together the first week in September, and if he could not; do so would call ifc as soon after as possible. They would all use their best endeavour to have the amendments made so as to have the elections under the new Representation Act. The Opposition held a majority in the House, and could do as they pleased, and he hoped they would accept the compromise. Mr Samuel urged the Opposition to show a more generous spirit. Mr Ross said that after the distinct promise given by the Premier that he would call the Parliament as soon after the first/ September as possible under tho new Representation Bill, he could not vote for Major Atkinson's amendment. Mr Taylor urged Canterbury members who had seceded from the Government not to allow Ministers to be further insulted. Sir Julius Vogel said it was impossible to call the House together by the n'rst of September. He declared that there was a large party in tho HoubO wlio were anxious to prevent the Representation Bill coming into force, and were doing their best to hamper the action of the Government, and to fasten on them the blame of the bill not being adopted. Whatever resolutions were moved, he still hold Parliament could not be called together bv the first of September. The real qnestion was, are the Honse willing to grant supply so that the new Representation Bill may be brought into form ? Major Atkinson, who had in the meantime consulted with Mr Montgomery and Sir George Grey, said after the clear and decided pledge given the House that the Government would use their best endeavour to bring the House together as soon after the first of September under the new Representation Bill, he would agree to alter his amendment in the direction proposed by the Premier. The amendment was then put to the House in the altered form and agreed to on the voices,and tho deadlock was at an end.