THE DEBATE.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 384, 13 July 1889, Page 4

THE DEBATE.

Wullixgtov, J uly 10. Thj: Representation Bill debate was continued at the evening sitting yesterday. Mr Saunders, the member for Lincoln, wa& the tivsfc speaker, and dealt with the poition of it dealing with the Hare system. 11 o considered the Bill the most important measure with -which the Premier had been connected. it was well known that the Bill would never pass into law because there was a largo majority opposed to it, but tliis he considered amatter for shame. He opposed rash legislation, but condemned the wholesale following of old modes and approved ol experiments on sound lines, arguing that our best work had been done when we stiuck out on lines of oiu own. Ho strongly defended the Hare system, urging that it was a very easy one to understand and really less cumbersome than the present system. The Hare system, he argued, would secure the leturn ot the best membeis and reduce the expenses of elections. It would gi\e also more equal distribution of political rights than at present exists. He made a veiy lcnpbhy defence of the principle of the system, speaking clearly and to the point. Mr Tanner (Waipfiwa) followed, criticising some ol the spcakeis who had dealt with the Bill on the first day's debate. He considered that the Hare system would bo a veritable " a&ses' biidge " to tho general run of clcctois. He disapproved of the proposed division into districts. He was of opinion that each district in these districts would vote ior tho local man, and the result would be that tho place with the largest number of electors might retvirn the whole of the representatives, always excepting perhaps one important man, Ho dealt with various clauses at some considerable length, generally disapproving of the provisions. Sir John Hall, who was the next speaker, agreed with Mr Tanner in his contention about tho size of district 0 , but considered that this would be remedied when tho Bill got into committee. He warmly approved of the Bill save ior this, and from the fact that it gave no advantage to the country members, but that could be conceded when it reached Committee. He urged the Government to be content with smaller districts until the practicability of the Hare system had been demonstrated. He dealt at length with the objections raised against the system, uiged the favour with which it was received in England, and the support it had received in other countries, and. its practicability in this colony. Mr Walker (Ashburton) attacked the last speaker for his opinion, and dealt with the Bill, allowing it some merit, but very little. He considered that tho large districts that Sir J. Hall had attacked formed tho one srood feature of the Bill.