PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3935, 9 August 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

[By Telegbaph.]

(FROM OUB SPECIAL COBBEBPONBENT.)

Wellington, Yesterday.

Mr Sbeehan made the following remarks at the deputation to the Premier yester-' day. He said that it had been decided by the Auckland members that the time had fully arrived when some regard should be paid to the large native population, which at the present time was close upon 45,000, and the return for which was only four members; these natives were practically debarred from exercising their vote for the election of the European members in the district in which they reside. He stated that the four native members had held a meeting of their own, and had come to the conclusion that they wouUl not like to see the existing special representation disturbed, but were willing to aid the European members in the Worth Island in obtaining 'additional representation of the ordinary kind based upon population, and to be elected in the same manner in which the European members are elected. What the deputation really wanted to know was whether the Gorerument were prepared to recognise the propriety of giving t'ae Worth Island additional members for the reasons mentioned. The d putation also wished to know authoritively what were the Government proposals generally with regard to the North Island with reference to representation. It was pointed out by Mr Sheehan that the Government had given a recent Otago deputation full information with regard to the representation of the South Island, and the present deputation were desirous of obtaiuing similar information with regard to the Worth Island.

The Premier, in reply answered the last question first by handing to Mr Sheehan the actual official plan of the sub-division of the districts of the. .North Island, and the official tables showing the distribution of seats and the population of each electorate. These tables and plan had been officially settled and the schedules of the Act will be prepared according to them (I may here interpolate and mention that the Auckland members are now considering the plan and figures ) With regard to the demand for increased representation on the grouud of native population, the Mi"isterial utterances were not quite so clear. 'In the course of a considerable discussion, in which several members took part, the Premier admitted that there was some force in the application made, but he did not see how the Government could take the matter in hand at present, inasmuch as to give a couple of additional members to the North, the South must be deprived.

Mr Sheehan said he understood the Government proposed to give 91 European members for the colony, and itappeared to him that if they went in for a penny they might as well go in for a pound. If it was right that Auckland should have two additional members, why not make the total number 93.

Mr Swanson followed in a similar strain, and Mr Wbitaker asked for a defiuite reply. -

The Premier said he was quite willing to admit that the present native population was unsatisfactory, because it gave to 2000 natives in the South Island one member, oniy leaving three representatives for a native population of 35 000 in the North. He strongly thought the native people were* not entitled to as full a representation upon the basis of population as European, on the ground that they were only taxed under certain particular heads, and did not pay the same full taxation as Europeans. Moreover, a large section of them still were practically outside the pa'e of the law, and did not admit the authority of Parliament, nor own allegiance to the Queen.

Mr Sheehan replied that the.disaffected natives were confined t > two sections—the King party in Central Waikato, numbering about 5000, and the Parihaka people, numbering about 3000. The deputation would be quite prepared to write off those 8000 natives, and take "representation on the basis of population for the remainder. Eventually Ministers agreed to consider the matter during the day, aud to give an answer at 7.30 to night.

This day.

In view of the discussion likely to arise on Mr Riohardson's motion relative to the disastrous Rimutaka accident of last September, a number of members went to the spot by special train yesterday to inspect it. The impression in certain quarters is that the accident was quite a preventable one, had ordinary precautions been taken in making up the train. Richardson's motion will probable lead to a fresh enquiry. Mr Moorhouse is still seriously ill, and his medical attendants consider the condi« tion critical.

Another " surprise " want of confidence was moved yesterday evening in going into Committee of Supply by Mr Thompson, who moved that there should be a reduction in the salaries amounting to 10 per cent, in the aggregate, but that it should not apply to salaries of £200 and under. In a house numbering only 49 members the motion was lost by five votes. Many members were absent at a ball and ia view ot the thinness of the House, and the probability that had it been full the position would hare been reversed, the motion is likely to be brought on again in another form tonight, i A return showing the amount received from the Land Tax and the Property Tax respectively from the several Provincial districts for the past financial year is as follows :—Auckland : Land Tax, £12,123 ; Property Tax, £50,991.