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New Zealand Mail, Issue 746, 18 June 1886, Page 21

Curious advice is gratuitously offered to the people of the North Island. Notwithstanding that the results of the late census prove the North Island to be entitled to a difference of six members as against the South Island —the North to gain three, the South to lose three —it is urged that the North should “ submit for some time longer to the present inequality and insufficiency ” and should “ let sleeping dogs lie.” W© shall have .something to say later on about the source from which this friendly eounsel emanates. As to the case itself, it is too plain for argument. The time has gone by for discussing the abstract question whether representation should be distributed on the sole basis of population. That question was earnestly debated in 1881, and it was then justly contended that there were other considerations beside that of mere numerical strength which ought to be taken into account. But all such qualifications were thrown overboard in 1881. The population basis was forced down the throat of the minority by sheer brute strength of numbers, and was deliberately adopted as a permanent standard. Solemn pledges were given by the majority that if at the expiration of the Representation Act it should be found that owing to the larger drift of population northward, the North Island had become entitled to larger representation, while through loss of population the South had become liable to lose part of its existing representation, this readjustment should he instantly and ungrudgingly effected. The time has come to test the value of those assurances. We cannot believe that the South Island members will eat in 1886 their words of 1881. It is idle to pretend that the change is so small as to be not worth making. Six members in a House of 9o caunot be deemed a trifle. Such a number could have turned the balance of power at almost anv period of New Zealand’s Parliamentary history. It needed only two members to change sides last year to defeat the Ministry, and several times during the career of the previous Administration the secession of two members would have been fatal. In 1879, had one member gone into a different lobby, the Grey Ministry would have remained in office, and directly afterward it only required four members to cross the floor of the House to convert the Hall Government’s minority of six into a majority of two. Six members constitute a very distinct and appreciable power in the House, and we can see no valid reason why the North Island should 1 not have its rights recognised as fully as were the Southern claims in 1881. If representation on a population basis be that accepted rule, then let us abide by it. If it be not, 1

then undo what was done on that pretext in 1881. There is no intermediate course. It is a question of good or bad faith; of justice or gross injustice, and we are annoyed ta find a North Island journal advocating thatthe just claims of this island Should be ignored. Not a single plea that is offered against redistribution now might not have been urged with more force in 1881. .The present difficulties, instead of being greater than then, are far less One special advantage now enjoy ed by the Government and Parliament in dealing with the question is that then the whole principle had to be fought out, while now the principle is conceded, and only its application remains to be carried out —a mere matter of departmental calculation. We unhesitatingly denounce this attempt to prevent Wellington and the rest of the North Island being accorded their just rights. It is noteworthy that the suggestion comes from a quarter whence we are, aecustomed to receive inspired intimations of the Colonial Treasurer’s particular views and intentions, also invariably laudation of the Treasurer, his actions, and his policy. It needs only to be borne in mind (1) that Canterbury is the part of the Colony which would suffer the largest reduction in representation, and (2) that the Colonial Treasurer is a Canterbury representative ; the task of “ putting this and that to--gether” then becomes exceedingly simple.