The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE. TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1889.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2654, 16 July 1889, Page 2

The Waikato Times AND THAMES VALLEY GAZETTE.

TUESDAY, JULY 16, 1889.

Jvptal ami exact justice to all men, Of whatsoever state or persuasion, religious or political.

Ox several occasions during the recess we wiirnotl our readers that a determined attempt would be made during the session by i<. section of the. House to obtain a repeal of tho Representation Aets Amendment Aut of I'SiST, wliicli reduces the number of members to fill.the next Parliament, when elected, to seventyfour (including Maoris). There aro men, who have unfortunately been elected as representatives of the people, who would strain every iii-rvo tn defeat the object of that Act, which was passed at tho expressed wish, and with the full consent, oE the whole colony. Jn the intensity of their own selfishness they seek to preserve themselves from the political extinction that awaits them with the coming in force of the measure. They continue the extravagance and costliness of our governing machinery, against which the country his made such a strong stand. Such is the action of a number of members, many of whom are prepared, without any qualms of conscience, to stultify themselves by agitating for the repeal of the Act, which they helped to pass by their votes two years ago. Tergiversation such as this is one of the fruits of the corruption and abandonment of political honour which the policy of the immediate past has produced so abundantly in the legislature of New Zealand. Last yoar the pross of the colony denounced in indignant and disgusted terms tho stubborn disregard of the people's will shown by the Parliament of tho country, It cannot bo said that there is no cause for levelling , the samechargo at the House this year; for, notwithstanding the exemplary progress at fu - st made with the business, and tho absence of partystrifo and waste of time, thanks to the course of procedure adopted by the Government, tlioro is apparent a chaffing disposition to break away from restraint, and again fly away in tlio face of tho countiy. To repeal the Act of 1887, and retain the constitution of the riouso of Representatives at its present number, is the chief aim of a tolerably largo following of those gentlemen. There is a very subtle movement with, that end in view, lu the present session they aro Koniowhat bolder than in the last, for the open admission is made of their intention to upset the Act. The unexpected struggle over tho quota raised between tho town and country members is not satisfactorily explained by tlio professed desire to secure an overwhelming percentage in favour of tho latter. It looks suspiciously like a rod herring drawn across the scent, to divert the attention of the country from tho Representation Act Amendment Act to a side issue sufficiently important to cause alarm and attraction, between contending factions. So far as the actual merits of the point in disputo are concerned, there would be little danger to the cities were the balance of representation hold by the countiy districts;. Even if the cities wore unrepresented, the fear for their interests would be almost unneces-

fiiivy ; i'or ic is impossible for tin , cuinifi'v to iulviinuo without the cit.ios, whilst tho latter claim that they can do without tho former, and havo frequently attempted to sacrifice the country to tnoir own selfish aims. But, it seems to us thoro has been no justification for raising tho point. Tho Hare system, which was a leading principle in Mr Uislop's Bill, effectually disposed of all bones of contention in that respect. The distribution of the representation under that .system would be so equitable and evenly-balanced that it would not offer any opportunity for the undue possession of power by any faction. The majority and minority, two great parties into which the colony could only be divided, would absolutely obtain representation on the fairest basis, in exact proportion to the positive strength of eacli side. And, if the amalgamation of city constituencies, which we have advocated for years, bo effected, it would make the representation still more perfect by concentrating the whole voting power of tho • city. The measure introduced by the Colonial Secretary, however, distinctly adhered to another great principle, the one demanded b} , tho country, namely, tho reduction of tho .strength of tho Houso to seventy members. That is the secret of the opposition to the Bill from all quarters. The opposition to the Bill h.is been so determined and strong that the Government saw it was futile to proceed with it, and havo consequently withdrawn it. There was a diversity of reasons given by members whose opinions were influenced by the Bill. Home wished tho Government to make it a Ministerial question and pass it through all its stages in order to defeat the agitation o£ the Country party. Others would not pledge themselves to support its passage in ijlnbo : sorns wanted one thing, some another, and neither would promise to support the Bill unless their views were conceded, whilst others, again, would not vote for its

sceoncl reading in order to delay it. for another year. Tims, there has been ]io fixed purpose beneficial to the welfare of tlm country ; but, there is the undefined, fli'iU;ii certain, rlpsir" io tVus-

ii'.'itc iiic; Wkliu-lio'.i i;t' i:;(<iiH'Crs. 'i'hose who Mm "iiidi'il in thoii , actions by a souse of patiiotism, and seek to lit'L the politics of New Ze;ilaud fvom a contracted sphere to a broad and truly national plane, see in the proposed representation re-

form the attainment of their hopes. Under those new auspices the government of the country would pass into.-tho hands of our best men, whose abilties and character are recognised as of the highest order. The new system would destroy that pernicious, self-seeking localism whicV. has been so detrimental to the growth of a genuine national spirit. It would lend its influence towards ■the disruption of ollicial centralism, and towards the increase of local administration. The character of the press would be altered and its localism would be superseded by questions affecting the whole common-wealth. Electors would no longer be seduced by the blandishments of aspiring politicians of mediocre calibre, the corrupt practices of electioneering committees and agents, but they would be guided wholly in the choice of men to represent them by the influence of the press and the knowledge it alone would possess of tho worth and fitness of the candidates. The press would become thoroughly national and more clearly the mirror of a healthy public opinion. The people must not permit the Act of 18S7 to be interfered with, otherwise the policy of retrenchment would receive its death-blow ; and, a look at the estimates is sutlicient to convince the thoughtful mind that the economy so longed urged is still far from bein? complete.