THE REPRESENTATION BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 107, 7 May 1887, Page 5

THE REPRESENTATION BILL.

(by telegraph—own bePoutjsr. )

Wellington, Friday. As I advised you early in the day, no compromise has been effected with respect to the Representation Bill, and at this afternoon's sitting the Premier asked for an adjournment till Tuesday, in hopes that some satisfactory understanding will bo arrived at with the opponents to tho measure. In bringing the matter bofore the Houae the Premier said :— Before proceeding to the order of the day I have to make a statement with reference to the Representation Bill. There has not been any agreement come to with reference to section .'-!, but I am in hopes that some arrangement will be made to enable it to be proceeded with, and I move that it be made an order of the day for Tuesday. I shall try and make it the first order of the day. Major Atkinson : I have only to say under the circumstances that 1 cannot oppose the order being postponed. lam sorry that tho Premier ■was not in a position to go on to-day, but I quite recognise the reasonableness of his request. So far as wo on thia aide of the House are concerned, we are quite satisfied with tho bill as it has been ainendad, and should' be prepared to proceed with it if the Government had seen their way to enable it to be gono on with. The Premier* motion was then agreed to. I am informed this evening that tho Premier had sprung a point with » view to getting a settlement of the deadlock, he having agreed to oiler the opponents of the measure an advantage equal to 10 per cent actual over town*. The country membors, however, seem determined to stick to tho clause as carried. The reduction of members to 71 is not being considered, though this is probably the point upon which the bill will ultimately turn. Every attempt will be made to alter the decision, though it seems doubtful whether a majority of tho House will be found prepared to re-commit the clause for that object. Failing this, an effort will be made to throw out the clause altogether. Mr Dargaville telegraphs from Taupo, asking to be paired for tho Representation Bill. Such an instruction is very vague at the present time, but it is interpreted as a vote for the Government.