THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1886.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7695, 21 July 1886, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1886.

Thk persistency with which the demand has been made for a readjustment of the representation during the present session has at length had the effect of compelling the Government to recognise their duty in this matter. Had it not been for the tenacity with which a portion of the Northern Press and certain Northern members kept it dangling before the eyes of Ministers, the question would have been placed on the shelf until next session. For there can be no doubt that there was a strong aversion on the part of the Ministry to the severe discussion which it would most surely give rise to. And there is no use attempting to conceal the fact that their unwillingness was caused by the rapid increase of population in the North Island as compared with that in the South Island, which the recent census has disclosed, and the apprehension lest any proposal to reduce the representation of the South and enlarge that of the North should produce disloyalty among a good many of their supporters. The Southern members have, in virtue of their superiority of numbers, been so long accustomed to dictate the policy of the country that the prospect of the North in this respect being nearly if not altogether on a footing of equality with the South is not at all welcome. To get over the difficulty thus looming before them, the Ministry first tried to put off the House and the country with the excuse that the imperfect state of the census returns would not admit of the representation question being dealt with this session. And, when reminded that these were in quite as forward a state as they were on tlje occasion of the existing Representation Bill being brought down by Sir John Hall's Ministry, they intimated that there were other considerations in addition to that of population to be taken into account in the redistribution of seats. This was a clear indication of a desire on their part to preserve the present distribution of seats as nearly as possible, and so maintain the ascendancy of the South in the House of Representatives. But the Northern members, to their credit be it said, declined to be checkmated after this fashion, and gave the Government to understand very distinctly that the principle of representation on the basis of population must be adhered to, and demanded that the Ministry should without delay announce the footing on which they intended placing the matter. Thus brought to bay, the Ministry were obliged to face the question, and the result is the Representation Bill which they have just distributed.

The main features of the measure proposed are these: First, that the representation shall be fixed on the basis of population ; and, within three months after the present session, and thereafter within three months after the result of any periodical census is ascertained, the total population of the colony shall be divided by the number of members in the House, exclusive of Maori members, and the strength of the electorates be thus determined. Second, that while the House retains to itself the power of regulating the number of seats, the apportioning of the population among these, and the defining of the extent, and the boundaries of the electorates, shall be delegated to a permanent I commission, to be appointed by the Governor, consisting of five members, of whom the ControllerGeneral and the Surveyor - General shall be official members, while the remaining three unofficial members shall be such persons, not belonging to the civil service, as the House of Representatives may from time to time nominate. It will thus be seen that the basis of population is adhered to as the regulative principle of representation, though it is dealt with in a peculiar way. This is so far well. And it must also be admitted that the relegating to a non-political commission the allocating of the population, in as nearly as possible equal numbers, to the number of seats in the House is a great improvement upon the existing mode of fixing the electorates. This will obviate the bitter wrangling and unscrupulous manoeuvring which would certainly be witnessed in the House as often as the question of redistributing the seats arose, and put an end to that political jealousy which obtains between the two islands, as also their unseemly struggle for numerical ascendancy in the House, to which members are now tempted to resort. It is only to be regretted that the non-political character

of the Commission is interfered with by the provision which incapacitates any member thereof, within three years after his ceasing to belong to it, for being appointed or elected a member of either branch of the Legislature. The object of this disqualifying clause is apparently to preventany member of the Commission from yielding to the temptation of using his influence to secure the goodwill of any particular electorate; but it at the same time aifixes to the commission a certain political character ; and, proceeding as it does on a suspicion of a man's integrity, will act as a deterrent, and so prevent the most capable men from accepting the appointment. It is probable, however, that this clause may be eliminated from the Bill, as we certainly think it ought to be. All the other clauses in the measure are occupied with the details necessary for its working, and do not at present call for any special comment. Its excellence consists in those leading features to which we have directed attention, and as these are sure to commend them- ,

selves to the approval of members and to the electorates, very little, if any opposition to its passing may be anticipated. The only part of it that is calculated to occasion any essential difference of opinion is that which authorises a departure from the principle of single electorates, and provides for the amalgamation of the several electorates at present existing in our large cities. On this point we may yet have occasion to offer some adverse comments. But meanwhile we do not hesitate to congratulate the Northern members on the fact that the perseverance with which they have insisted on the question of representation being dealt with this session has resulted in the production of such a Bill as is likely to give general satisfaction to the country.