THE REPRESENTATION BILL

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3879, 4 June 1881, Page 2

THE REPRESENTATION BILL

(To the Editor of the Eirtuitig Star.) Sib, —I hear so many contradictory accounts of the intention of the Gofernment respecting the Representation Bill, that it is difficult to know what to belie To. Sir George Grey has expressed his conriction that it will not be introduced while the Premier and other ministerial great guns hare asserted their determination of passing the measure daring the approaching session. It is a rery difficult subject for any ministry to approach, and I am of opinion that the best method to fie the representation of a young country like this is. First. Let the, Parliament, decide on some fixed system, and, second! leare the apportioning of the representation to an independent commission composed of—say the Judges of the Supreme Court. This would sare the ever recurring, squabbles orer the representation of country. If the Parliament decide on adopting the population basis, pure and simple, or should they make an exception in faror of country districts, it will not" matter much, as long as we hare some precedent established to prerent the country being at the mercy of an unscrupulous Ministry. The great bulk of the people of the colony, I feel sure, are in faror of the population basis; but there may be a few cases in which an injustice would be inflicted. The bill, as it at present stands, is badly drawn, and though it proposes to treat the Thames fairly enough, there are other districts which will be too well treated, while others, again, will hare to suffer. The most glaring instances of favoritism are, perhaps, Taranaki and Nelson, while the East Coast and Manawatu are, in a manner of speaking, left: oat in the cold. There is not the slightest reason that two sparsely populated'districts like •• Sleepy Hollow" and Taranaki should be giren an undue political influence simply because they are always willing to obey the beck and call of the powers that be.—l am, &c, Ltbehal.