REPRESENTATION BILL

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7356, 8 July 1889, Page 5

REPRESENTATION BILL

THE QUOTA QUESTION.

|By Telegraph.]

[from our special corrkspotjdent.] WELLINGTON, July 7.

Nobody seems to be quite clear as to what is exactly to happen to and about the Representation Bill, but all appear to agree that it is hopelessly doomed. It is estimated that if the Bill eoes to a division in its present shape, thirty or thirtyone votea will be the utmost recorded for it. Some think that a definite vote will be taken on the question, others that the Bill will be withdrawn after further debate. The present intention is still, I believe, that the debate shall proceed on Tuesday evening at any rate, and possibly next day, and that a decision shall then b e come to respecting the course to be adopted. Some members deprecate any more time being "wasted," as they term it, in further discussion on a measure which they regard as doomed to abandonment, but on the other band a good many seem anxious to place on record their personal views on a question which few of them understand or apparently have cared to study, and some will, no doubt, make thoughtful and interesting speeches. The prevalent opinion, however, must be admitted to be that the Hare system does not come under the category of " practical politics" at present. One advocate of the system stated in the lobby in answer to an objection as to its complication and incomprehensibility, that he bad tried it in a children's school and got the children to conduct an election aaong themselves (so far as actual voters would have to do it), and that they found not the slightest difficulty in understanding and carrying out the directions, the result being entirely satisfactory. His hearers, however, remained unconvinced. The cry of complexity has been raised so loudly that it will be fatal to the proposal for this year at any rate. Touching the electoral quota question, efforts are being made by the town members to arrange a compromise with the rural opponents, but so far without success, nor does there seem any likelihood that the attempt will have any practical result. The latest proposal is that the country should have an allowance of 25 per cent., instead of 18. This is scornfully rejected by the country members, who have pledged themselves in writing to accept nothing less than 33 J per cent., and to insist on that being accorded." As they can count with certainty upon fifty-two or fifty-three votes at least in a House of ninety-five, it is obvious that they are masters of the situation. On the other hand, the town members talk of fighting the matter out to the " bitter end," and some even threaten stonewalling if the demand is persisted in. The matter is causing the Government some anxiety, as it is the only thing that menaces any interruption of the smooth and rapid course which the public business has enjoyed so far this session. The general impression seems to be that the session will be brought to a close some time next month.