POLITICAL.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4904, 3 May 1887, Page 3

POLITICAL.

[SPECIAL TO DAILY TELEGEAPH.J

[OWN OOBBESPONDENT. —BY TELEGBAPH.]

Wellington, This day. THE PREMIER'S VERACITY.

• Another instance of the Premier's uncommon veracity has just been brought under my notice. After stating, when moving the second reading of the Representation Bill, that the per centage clause •would be crucial, and after subsequently stating distinctly to a member that if the House struck out the clause the Government would resign, the Premier this morning stated that if the House adopted the views of yesterday's meeting, or if necessary to adopt those before tho matter came before the House, the Government would drop the clause. Veracity and resolution are not strong points in the present Government. After all the talk about population being the only basis of representation, the appear quite willing to cave in in the most abject manner. The deputation from yesterday's meeting is now interviewing the Premier in the Cabinet room of tho Parliament buildings..

' ',\ : Later. MEETING THE PREMIER. RE THE BEPRESENTATION BILL. The meeting of the deputation ■with t&t

Premier has just concluded.. The deputation urged tho necessity for placing the country districts in the same relativo position that they were in before. Sir Robert Stout denied that any specific advantages were given to the country districts, but a passage from Hansard of 1881 convinced him that that was the case. Ultimately he saitl that he was willing to increase the marginal already allowed by the bill, from 500 to 1000 in special districts. Further alterations were suggested to him, which he would take time to consider. The country members do not consider the position satisfactory. A meeting , of town members to consider the representation question will be hold to-morrow.

MESSRS ORMOND AND RUSSELL

TAKE THEIR SEATS. Messrs Ormond and Russell both took their seats this afternoon.