PARLIAMENTARY, [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. LAST NIGHT'S SITTING.

Waikato Times, Volume XVII, Issue 1423, 16 August 1881, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY, [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. LAST NIGHT'S SITTING.

The House met at 7.30. The Gaming Bill. Mr Dick moved— " That the House insist on its amendment in the Gaming and Lotteries Bili," and Messrs Montgomery, Bowen, and Dick were appointed managers to draw up reasons. The Representation Bill. The debate on the Representation Bill was resumed by Mr Gibbs, who opposed the bill and supported Mr Gisborne's amendment. Without any feeling of antagonism to the Government he felt bound to defend to the utmost the political existence of bis district, which was threatened with evtinction. He considered the bill was one to throw the government of the colony into the hands of the provincial districts of Cdnterbuiy and Otdgo. They were to have 45 members, and all the rest of the colony only 46. He suggested that the boundaries of his district should extend, not that it should be wiped out altogether. Ifc was one of the oldest districts in the colony, the oldest goldfield, and it had derived no advantage from the Public Worka expenditure. It really had less community of interest with Motueka, to which it was to be attached than it had. with Wellington. Mr George opposed the bill. It was not one to give represent? tiou on the basis of population, or else the Maoris would have been" taken into account. They were British subjects, entitled by law to be on the electoral roll. He held that their special representation should now be abolished, and that they should be treated as ordinary electors. Were this done, the balance of power between the Islands would be very little disturbed. He also objected to towns being cut up into single electorates as encouraging plural voting. Under such a scheme of representation as proposed the North Island would have no chance in the distribution of future loan? ; the seat of Government would probably be moved to Canterbury, and the direct * u steam service be given to Otago. Dr. Wallis expressed a qualified disapproval of the bill, and unqualified disapproval of the amendment. He advocated a complete system of equal electorates. The bill proposed a most unfair preponderance of members to the South, If thia bill was passed the North would demand separation. Mr Sutton supported the bill generally, although he -wished it had not proposed to increase the number of members. At present the South was entitled to a pre- ! 1 ponderance of political .power, but in due time, no doubt, the turn of the North would come. He objected to Wairoa being thrown into Auckland, and would have no objeptibn to leaving another niember to Nelson.. He approved of smgle .electorates. ' ( (Left Sitting. )