Ministerial Utterances.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 31, 11 February 1904, Page 2

Ministerial Utterances.

(Per Press Association,) \ PAHIATUA, Feb. 10. Mr O'Meuru, member for Palliatua, was entertained at a by his constituents. Auiongst the gues.ts were Air Sixklon and Sir J. U. Ward. The latter, in the course of a speech, saW great reform was necessary in connection with tho electoral laws in order to make it Irapossible for uny man to represent a, ininoiity. of the people, ulid to iiiaku it imjiossible for any returaolllcer or regiiajtiw of electors toi bo able to do anything to invalidate the election of u mail who was fairly returned by a majority of tha people. Another reform lie C&vou<£ ed, but in wl/ch bo was only tg 4 lie taken us roprosenting his own opinion, was reform of the present Vi-Kihaia'ber system of legislation. It (Vas a subject which wus bound to engage the attention of tho public in tlie near future- The whole \olco of public opinion showed that th« existing system was and that a 'change must be made, lie the Lower House ounrht to elect memljors cf tlie Up|)er. House, and every provincial district ought to have a fair share of representation. If (they were going to make changes let it bo a wholesale change, It was advocated, by. some that local public li-pilios should have power to elect membora i to tho Upper, Houses, but if suofc bodies had a voice on tha existing franchise tliey would havo a Rtjopgap that would allow no legislation to go tilroug'h. Tho question wus siunnering, some change must eome, and public opinion' required to be educated on that point. Ho predicted a 'grout commercial treaty, between' America, Australia ami." New Zealand, which would niaka them iilcpendeiil of any possible combination of Powers.