LATEST PARLIAMENTARY. (BY TELEGRAPH,—SPECIAL REPORTER.) Wellington, July 17. REPRESENTATION QUESTION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 386, 20 July 1889, Page 5

LATEST PARLIAMENTARY. (BY TELEGRAPH, — SPECIAL REPORTER.) Wellington, July 17. REPRESENTATION QUESTION.

The Representation question is still exercising the minds of members, and is getting more involved. Ib seems now. that while town members were wanting an added quota ot 25 per cent, given to the country, the country party were wanting a deduction of 33^ per cent., which is equivalent bo an addition ot 50 per cent. Town members understood that the country party wanted an addition of 33^ per cent., which the pro&ont proposal oi the (Jovcrnmont gives them. iNow the country members intend in&i&tmg on having 35i per cent, deducted, a proposal which simply astounds the town party. J hear there is just a chance that the measure raaj be dropped like the iirsfc one was, for the Government will concede no more to the country paiby. On that, though at present ib i& hardly probable, a " no-contidenco " motion maybe moved and an appeal be made to the country. The general im pi essioij among the sound and equable thinkers of the House is that if the Bill be earned ib will be a tremendous levorago for introducing the Hare system, as> the iniquity of that measure would nob be long tolerated by the people, owing bo the dense population round the city. Auckland comes out best of any of the cities, as she will only lose ono member, and her borough electorates will be untouched, besides receiving the advantage of the quota, while having almost an equal population to the city electorate. I had a conversation with Sir Harry Atkinson this morning, when he told me he would move on Friday for an adjournment until Monday evening, and it has been arranged l,hat> the Government should ha\e this evening for their business. This means that they will have Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday: and with this he is ceitain bu&inesw will be gob bhiough at a lapid rate. I asked about the debate on the liepresentation Bill, but he seemed confident ib would not last through next week. "At any rabe,' J he said, "the Public Works JStatement will not be brongght down until it is complebed, if 1 have to watt a month." He persists in the declaration that no further concession will be made to the country party. An agitation is being promoted aD:ong the town members to oppose an amalgamation of the city electorates. Sir George Grey i.s in favour of amalgamation, and iVlessis Thompson and Goldie against, while Mr Peacock is also known to be opposed. Dr. Fitchett and Mr Fish do not want it, and the other Dunedin members do, while the Wellington members are favourable. If they cannot kill this clause an efloib will be made to make it optional to cities to adopt it. The town party had a meeting this morning, when theie were fourteen present. After considerable discussion Messrs Moss, Percival, Izard and Fish were appointed a deputation to wait on the Premier, and ask for an adjournment of tbedebafe. Whatever the Premier decides, the debate is not likely to be jesumed before Friday, as private business blocks the way.

GAS BILL. Tho Select Committee again sat on the Gas Bill this morning when Mr Varsons was cross-examined, and Mr Cotter addressed the Committee. They will decide on the preamblo to-moirow, and aftcnvaidfa consider the Bill clause by clause.

DISFRANCHISING WELLING TON. Tho latest sensation in the political world ib a proposal seiiously thought of by a number of town and country membcis, that Wellington City and its environs for seven miles round should be disfranchised. They propose this on tho ground that Ministers residing there gives residents at tho seat of Government easier access to Ministers than other people in the colony, and that immense pressure can be brought to bear by the Civil Service and by the local press, and also by Parliamentary representations. The&e reasons will not stand arguing for one minute, and the agitation is likely to end in a fizzle, but at present it is seriously contemplated, and was so announced by Mr Fish in tho debate last night. Its advocates compare Wellington to Washington, which is disfranchised Thcic is thi.s about it, that Ministers have often m the House complained bitterly of tho persistence of Wellington members in soliciting billets for friends, Sir Robert Stout particularly condemning.

OTACiO CENTRAL. Lobby rumours state that the opposition to the Otago Central is daily becoming stronger, and it is considered ceitain that the Bill cannot pass unless other members interested in railway construction for their respective di&biicts obtain a quid pro quo. This -was indicated by the discussion in the House yesterday. There are some Auckland members who believe that any futiu - e extension ot railway construction must necessarily anticipate another loan -which it will bo necessary to raise at no distant date. Tf these works aie £cone on with and some of these members object to further railway works in the North, as they must of necessity act as feeders to prhate railways belonging to the Manawatn Company, theso members will vote against expenditure of any money on new lines or sections of lines, first bocausc they are satisfied that payable lines or sections can only bemacleattheexponse of votes for profitless work°, and secondly, because ( we have more railways now than vie require \ and more land opened up than we can lind settlors to occupy.