The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1889.

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 179, 30 July 1889, Page 4

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

TUESDAY, JULY 30, 1889.

Tot the cause that laoks assiatanee, For the vrrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And tha good that we can do.

It is evident from admissions that have been made in the course of the struggle over the Representation Bill that both town and country members are concerned in a plot to restore the number of members of the House of Representatives to 91. First, we have Mr Ballance endeavouring to sound members upon the subject by means of a brief circular j then we have deputations from the country members endeavouring to secure their object by direct appeal to the Premier. Happily, both these plans have failed, but unless the members are narrowly watched, and the voice of the people is still heard supporting the reduction, there is little doubt that other issues will be raised to defeat the obnoxious proposal. In this connection we think the action of the indignation meeting last Saturday in passing the resolution against restoring the number to 91 was a capital stroke of policy. By this means any ulterior design which is being cherished by the gentlemen in the big wooden House was adroitly checked so far as Auckland is concerned, and let us hope other centres will act in a similar manner. We are informed by telegram that the reading of the resolutions from Auckland " caused considerable consternation j and doubtless the one anent the reduction of members came as a very nasty jar. We need not reiterate the arguments

that have been repeatedly urged in favour of a smaller House, and which Dr. Laishley again affirmed at last Saturday's meeting. It is sufficient to state that both directly and indirectly the savings which would result from sending twenty-one members of the present House about their business would be very considerable, the payments in honoraria alone being reduced by while the savings indirectly would probably amount to the same sum. There need not be the slightest sacrifice of efficiency ; indeed, it is probable that the reverse would be the case. If 74 members in the Lower House and 40 in the Upper are insufficient to govern a colony of some 600,000 persons, then the sooner some radical alteration in our system of government is effected, the better, The main reason, however, which v/eighed with the electors when declaring in favour of this measure was the feeling that our overgrown representative Chamber is one of the chief causes of Governmental extravagance. The country felt that some change was imperative, and it was disposed to give the reduction of the numerical strength of the House a trial. If that fail, it is easy enough to hark back again; but until the determination of the country in this matter has been given eftect to and proved to 'be injurious to the well-being and progress of the colony, every attempt to reverse its decision must be promptly and resolutely resisted.