REPRESENTATION BILL STONEWALL CONTINUES. THE GOVERNMENT WEAKENING. ADJOURNMENT AGREED TO. REST FOR THE STONEWALLERS. (BY TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 390, 3 August 1889, Page 4

REPRESENTATION BILL STO NE WALL CON TIN UES . THE GOVERNMENT WEAKENING. ADJOURNMENT AGREED TO. REST FOR THE STONEWALLERS. (BY TELEGRAPH. — SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Wellington, July 30. The Representation debate was again begun, or, in other words, the stonewall was again raised yesterday afternoon, when Mr Withy resumed his interrupted speech ot Saturday night. He began with some goodhumoured remarks, expressive of regret that no arrangement had been come to since the House adjourned on Wednesday ni^hfc, and that no overtures had been made to the city party for settlement of the ditiiculty — a way of putting it that raised a general laugh. Mr Withy spoke until almost 3 o'clock, and « as followed by Mr Tanner. This gentleman defended the Bill from tho country members' point of view, his speech being avowedly an answer to that made by Mr Allen las: week. His contention was bhat a distribution of representatives in the country districts on the basis of population alone would be very untair. Mr Moss who held the floor from ?.2O to 8 o'clock (out of which must be taken two hoiuV adjournment for dinner) argued that the present position of atlaiis was not brought about by the town party, but by the Government, who endeavoured to force the Bill through at all hazards. He claimed that the question was not one of figure^ but was rather that of independence for the towns andof preserving the constitution from a newelemen t which would separate town from country, and create ill-feeling where good feeling now reigned. MiMoss's suggestion as to the best way of overcoming the present difficulty was that the Government should withdraw the Bill. Failing that, there should be an immediate dissolution to enable the people to say whether they would have 70 members with the Bill now introduced by the Government as a new condition, or adhere to the old number and quota. The Government had no right to introduce a new element, but having done so the question ought to be referred back to the peopla After the dinner adjournment Mr Moss raised a laugh by a reply to the Speaker, who warned him that he had already spoken two hours, and hoped he would condense his remark. Mr Moss took this as a permission from the Speaker to continue for another two hours and thanked the Speaker for his kindness, but thought he would be finished in a far shorter period. Mr "W. P. Reeves followed Mr Moss, and spoke for three-quarters of an hour, and succeeded in drawing Sir John Hall, who rose with some warmth to contradict an implication in the hon. gentleman's speech, Uiat he (Sir John) had spoken disparagingly of the townspeople. He challenged Mr Reeves to prove that he had ever, in public or in private, said anything that would bear such a construction. The only other speaker of the evening was Mr Perceval, who failed along pleasantly from 9 o'clock to 10 in a somewhat bantering strain. In concluding his remarks, he took pain& to emphasise the fact that the proposed adjournment until next morning was nob sought by the town party, who were perfectly ready to continue the debate without an adjournment if the Government desired it. The struggle was not of their seeking, but they would certainly not shrink from it in any way. The Speaker intimated at this stage that he would vacate the chair. The Hon. Mr Mitchelson said the Government would have no objection to the House rising till 10.30 next morning, and this suggestion was at once acted upon.

REASONS FOR ADJOURNMENT. . The adjournment each evening I believe is to be kept up throughout the stonewall ; and the rea&on, I believe, is to prevent the danger of a count out. One night last ween in the "wee sraa' hours ayant the twa,*' attention was drawn to the state of the House, and it -was only by five seconds that the country party missed a count out, which would nave meant the Bill being 1 dropped. It devolves on the country party to maintain a quorum, that is, twenty members present ; and they at times find considerable difficulty in doing this. The determination of Government to adjourn the debite each evening means prolonging the stonew all considerably, as the city pai ty have still 15 or 16 speakers who can deal with the adjournment of the House.

CONFLICTING TELEGRAM. Mr Joyce, who spoke for eij^lit hours and is one of the most active of the stonewalleis, lias received the following complimentary telegram from a resident in Christchurch. " Sorry I am not one of your constituents. You are a brick. — Signed, lleniy \Y. Tooiner." Another telegram from a Lyttelton resident read as follows : " Tray accept congratulations from the larger portion of your constituents on the ability displayed by you in breaking the record this session itj your speech on thellepresentationßill. — Signed, \V. Barnes." The country paity say the&e and similar telegrams^ have been inspiied, and that the meetings held in the cities have been in response to telegrams from the city party ; and affect co treat them as of no importance. In reply to the Dunedin congratulatory telegrams, they flaunt the following message received by Mr Valentine from a prominent Dunedin merchant and member oE the Chamber of Commerce : — ** All bunkum about the excitement here, except amongst the supporters of Messrs Fish and Fitchett. Outside them, people are unanimously in favour of amalgamation of city electorates, and of ins-ibtance on the reduction of members to 71. Traitors to the latter need not Eeek re-election. Outside of the agitators no one cares a damn about the quota."

GOVERNMENT'S POSITION. The Premier assured Messrs J. B. Why te, Buchanan, McKenzie, and Valentine, who waited upon him yesterday, that the Government would adhere firmly to their position, which he announced to the House last Wednesday evening ; viz, that they would agree to neither more nor Jess than 25 per cent, being placed on the Bill.

APPEAL TO MR MONK. The "Post" this evening attacks Mr Fitzherbert (Hufcfc), whose constituency will be considerably affected by the Bill, for assisting the country party ; and shows how hie district will suffer. It then goes on thus, making a direct apneal to Mesftrs Monk and Mills (Port Chalmers) :— " We have dealt with the case at our own doors, but around each ot the other cities there are suburbs which, under this uniquitous Bill, will f-uffer equally. The Devonport Borough, in the electoral district of Waitemata, is a case in point ; and the greatest indignation is felt there, we learn, regarding the action of its member in supporting the Bill. In all probability Porb Chalmers also wilt be absorbed in the Dunedin electorate if the Bill passe?. We hope that representing constituencies, large

portions of which will or may be so injuriously affected, willpausotoconsider their position before doing anything more to partially disfranchise a portion of their constituents. If thoy do not do so, the task of determining the fittest seventy to survive oub of the present ninety-one will probably be a good deal simplified." A PIECE OF MR MOSS. The member for Parnell in his speech I;ist night; said : Wo weie going along calmly and smoothly when the Government erected this stonewall (•• Oh," "Oh," and laughter). Yes, the Government raised this stonewall. ("How?") Why, the Premier ' when asked a reasonable question as to pie- [ paring maps and letting us consult our constituents, kicked our shins with his heavy hob-nailed boots ; so then wo commenced to use bricks and onbrench ourselves (laughter). Mr Moss: Oh, it's no laughing matter. Mr Allen was the first speaker on the House meeting this morning, and ho held the- floor until the lunch adjournment was taken at one o'clock. Many wild proposals of compromises, etc., have been flying round lately, but the most astounding is that Parliament should pass an Act giving them power to sit for five years instead of the three it was elected foi. This has been mooted for several days, and I hear one momber has been lobbying in favour of it, but the amount of support accoided the proposal does not appear to have been large. Theie seems to be a general impression that the Representation Bill will bo commibted some lime this evoninp. We may then expect some peculiar developments owinsr to the various interests coming into conflict. Some town members are for the amalgamation of city electorates and some njrainst, a few for and many against the leturn to 91 members. The- country party are split on the latter question, and are at variance on the question of the inclusion of boroughs and small towns in the advantage gi\en by the quota. During the progress of the town meeting yesterday Mr Iraid stated that although he would do all in his power to assist the city part\ by voting and speaking in the- House and in Committee, he was pledged as a mutter of conscience against stonewalling, otherwise he would do all he could. It has been announced that Mr Yerrall, who yesterday left the country party, has leturned to their fold on finding that the town paity could not assist him in netting a return to 91 members When the Bill reaches Committfe Sir Geo. Grey will move the following amendments. He says he is for reduction of membeis still further than at present, bub is willing that the question should again go to the country if thereby he can gain the abolition pluial voting : " That no elector shall after the passing of this Act vote in respect of moie than one electorate at any election of members of the House of Representatives-." " That the Representation Acts Amendment Act, 1887, is hereby repealed and the provisions of the Representation Act, ISB7, which wete repealed by the Representation Acts Amendment Act, 1887, are hereby re-enacted." "That a dissolution of the General Assembly shall take place on or before the day of August next.'' The country manifesto should be a very comprehensive document, judging from tho care being taken o\ er its compilation. It was drafted yesterday evening, but this morning the Premier and Sir John Hall almost completly recast it. The document is nob ready for publication yet.