A DARK RUMOUR.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 4 August 1913, Page 4

A DARK RUMOUR.

It is rumoured in political circles in I Wellington that the Govern:nent has i modified its views on the question of proportional representation, and that it would be glad of an opportunity to reform the Legislative Council in some way that would be less, likely to play into the hands of the Labour and Socialistic element. We give the rumour for what it is worth; but the speech made by the Hon. John Duthie in the Council last week, followed by the negative attitude of the Hon. H. D. Bell, would lead one to suppose that there may be something in it. Four ourselves, we refuse to believe that the Government would compromise its position by backing down on a principle on which it has staked its reputation Of course, if the Opposition persists in applying the system of proportional representation to botih Chambers, the Government may prefer to abandon it in connection with both. But until a contingency of that sort arises, we cannot imagine Mr Massey climbing down, not even at the suggestion of such a stalwart "Liberal" as the Hon. John Duthie.