The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1887. THE REPRESENTATION BILL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2592, 7 May 1887, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1887. THE REPRESENTATION BILL.

The progress of the Representation Bill in the hands of Sir Robert Stout is about as rapid as that of the schoolboy who, in travelling to his academy took two steps backward to each one which he made forward. The Premier has tied himself up with pledges in favor of this bill. Like the celebrated Devonport brothers, he is bound hand and foot, and invites everybody to witness his position, to try the ropes, examine the cabinet, and testify to the fact that there is no trickery. Then in a few seconds lie appears thoroughly extricated from all his fetter's. We hope all lawyers are not like Sir Robert Stout. If they were, a statute ought to be passed to exclude them from political positions. Even the Wellington Post, that has been wont to pick up the crumbs that fall from the Ministerial table and lick the feet of those who sat thereat, is beginning to question the honesty and sincerity of the Ministry. Of course Ministers don't want to pass the Representation Bill. They shuffled out of it last session by promising to put it through this session, but now, ■ because the House has determined certain points in a way that does not please them' they simply drop the bill. As we understand it, they are willing to pass a bill providing that they can shuffle the South Island into a good position in the measure and favor the large towns 011 which they depend for support a t the cxpenso of country districts. Of course, after the singular conduct of Sir Robert Stout in abandoning his own Bill, a deliberate insult to the house, he ought to resign or be turned out of office. Unfortunately the Opposition don't want to turn him out at the present juncture and he is taking advantage of this to outrage Parliament. No doubt, some compromise will be arrived at to terminate a deadlock which is now placing the House of Representatives in a most humiliating position, or in other words the House will consent to be kicked by the irate Sir Robert,