REPRESENTATION BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9435, 5 August 1889, Page 5

REPRESENTATION BILL.

[BY TKT.ttGIIAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Sunday., THE following tablo, compiled by Mr. Frankland, the Actuary to the Government Insurance Department, shows how the various proposals made would work out, in the first place, on the principle of adding to the population of the country districts (the basis now accepted); and secondly, that proposed by the Government Bill, of deduction from the city populations : — Act of 1887: 18 per cent. Town quota, 9,147; number of members, 22 '2; added country, 7,755; number of members, 47"8. 25 per cent. Town, 9,517 ; number of momcers, 21-3; added country, 7,011; number of members, 48"7. 28 per cent. Town, 9,076; number of members, 21-0; added country, 7,505 ; number of members, 4!)'0. 334 per cent. Town, 9,559; number of members, 20*4 ; added country, 7,473 ; number of members, 49 - 0. * Government Bill : 25 per cent. Town, 10,220 ; number of members, 14'5 ; deduction country, 7,065 ; number of members, 55-5. 28 "per cent, deduction. Town, 10,057; number v of members, 14*0; country, 7,601 ; number of members, 56'0. 3'>£ percent. Town, 11,232; number of members, 132; deduction country, 7,488 ; number of members, 50*8. 25 per cent. Town, 9,713; number of members, 15 ; added to country, 7,770 ; number of members, 54-8.

From this it will be seen that the quota under the " 28 per cent, added," which has been agreed to, for towns is 9070, and for country 7565. The country will return 49 members, and the towns 21.

The Post says Mr. Frankland's figures will enable the public to appreciate the rapacity of the extreme country party, anil how desirous they were of denuding the centres of population of all political power. The stake at issuo was one well worth fighting for, and the town members have deserved well of their constituents for defending so steadily and bravely the interests of those they represent. In reality, the country party have now got nothing more than was freely offered them from the very outset. The Press says the compromise is unsatisfactory, bub the town party have retired with the honours of war.

The Post, referring to what it calls the utterly despicable and humiliating position of the Government, says they sat in their places moving adjournment after adjournment, while a couple of self-appointed and irresponsible committees of private members were engaged upstairs hacking a Ministerial policy Bill about until it was deprived of all trace of the policy it was supposed to embody. Gossip says that the Ministry were so overjoyed at the success of Messrs. Moss and Seymour's negotiations that they could hardly contain themselves, and treated Mr. Moss like one of their oldest and most trusty supporters. The exact wording of the new clause has been giving a good deal of trouble. The Ministry and Messrs. Moss and Seymour were closeted for over two hours without coining to a decision on the matter. It is stated that, Sir Fredk. Whitaker framed a clause but it was not satisfactory to the town party. On Saturday morning Messrs. Downie Stewart, Perceval, Allen, and Dr. Fitchett sought the assistance of Mr. McKerrow, formerly a member of the representation Commission, in drawing up a clause that would satisfy both sides, and this will be submitted in due course.

Though tho majority on both sides are now agreed on the main features of the Bill, there will still be a deal of talking over it. There are numerous amendments which are certain to give rise to much debate. Among these are Sir George Grey's abolition of plural voting, and Mr. Guinness' plan for getting over minorities electing candidates. Mr. Feldwick proposes to reduce the number of Maori members from four to three. The principal element of discord, however, will be the treatment of large boroughs. The representatives of the larger boroughs who have been supporting hitherto the country party, and who now hud themselves left in the lurch, as it were, by being debarred from the exercise of the 28 per cent, quota offered, are naturally much incensed. It is improbable that they will attempt any stonewalling, as they are not only not strong enough to do so with any hope of success, but the House as a whole is weary of such tactics. It is said, however, that they will organise and make mi attempt to reduce the allowance to country districts to 2.1 per cent., and obtain its extension to all boroughs of loss than 5000 inhabitants. The following are boroughs which will now be put on the same footing as towns : —New Plymouth, Nelson, Greymouth, Thames, Gisborno, Onchunga, Devonport, Palmerston North, Ma.sterton, Port Chalmers, Hokitika, Lyttelton, Wanganui, Blenheim, Oamaru, Napier, Timaru, and Invercargill.