THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1889.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8533, 25 July 1889, Page 2

THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1889.

Parliament has been in session fire weekß to-day, and no business of any importance baa yet been transacted. The Representation Bill the Ministry brought down shortly after the session opened has been withdrawn, and another introduced at the wishes of the country members, who huppea to be in a majority in the House. The town members, however, disapprove of the measure, beoause it will weaken them. The present plan is to add the percentage to the couutry population. The new method proposes to subtract the percentage from the populations of only the four chief cities and their suburbs, tbus making the ratio to them. Under tbe preiect lyitim^ tbe computation, at

the last election waj as follows : — Total population, 578,482 ; from this 4925 was deducted as beiag on ehipbo»rd and at thß Chatham Islands, and 205,540 as the population of the whole of the cities and boroughs, etc., which had more than 2000 inhabitants. The net result wob 368,017, and the allowance of 18 per cent, gave 66,243. These were added to the total population, and the result, 644,697, divided by the 91 membe'S^.gave the quota of 7030. Twenty-nine boroughs at this quota absorbed 205,540, leaving the remaining 367,987 to be divided among tho 62 country members, who thus had a quota of 5935. These are only approximate figures, as the actual calculations of the Commissioners are not made pnblio. Here, we learn, the disturbing influence comes in. Tho Commissioners have a discretionary power of 750 over or under tbis quota. This, in faot, gives up to 1500 for eaab constitaency,end the actual differences in tho electorates, aa they were fixed by the CorrmiiBioners under the 18 per cent, uominal quota, amount in many oases nearly to 50 per cent. Large numbers of the districts show the discrepancy of from 35 to 45 ppr cent, under the nominal quota of only 18 per cent., and it will be very muoh greater under a nominal quota of 33£ per cent. Tho total population is still to be taken at the last cemus, 578,500. The cities and boroughs to be treated exceptionally contain 146,000. The calculation is theiofore 579,500,-36,500=542,000, which divided by 70 gives 7743, requiring 10,324 town or borough people for oue member. Tbe i 12 city tneipbers alone would absorb ' 123,888, and leave about enough for two or three members more according to the manner in which the Commissioners might use their discretionary power. The balance might be assumed at 432,000, to bo divided among tho 55 or 56 country members that would be left. The quota would thus be about 7850 for country districts — that is to say, nearly 33£ per cent, less tbaa the towns.

I The representatives of the cities are very much opposed to any change being made. The Wellington correspondent of onr Auckland namesake states that what tho»o member! most dread ia — firstly, the uae which the Commissioners may make of their margia of 2250 for city constituenoies aad 750 for boroughs ; secondly, they oelieve that if they acquiesce in the fixed number of three members being •specially allotted to each of the four great cities, it will become a settled principls that they shall have so many and no mor«, whatever increa«o of population they may for many years receive. Singling them out instead of making a rule as heretofore, that all places over a certain population shall be subject to tho reduction, is the special new feature of the bill. This statement will enable our readers to nee exactly bow this question stands. It promises to be a turning point, as the city and borough members who support the Government hare openly declared that they will no longet support them if this injustice be perpetrated upon their consituents. They are willing to accept the bill as it first passed In 1887, and complain very bitterly that the Government should have brought down a bill to alter the arrangement then made. They aro not satisfied to leave their districts — especially aa some say iv the matter of charitable aid and similar objects — bo entirely at the mercy of the country members. Thb rather unusual ooarse of testing tbe opiaions of the majority of tho members by means of the ballot ia a new phase in the Representation question. Although it may be necessary to adopt tbe ballot system in, the eleotion of members for the -House, it certainly is out of place for the Ministry to get at the views of the majority by the same process on a question which may affect tbeir seats. Tot that is what tne Government, we are told, have been doing with regard to the question of the representation of tho coantry. It has all the appearance of a cowardly political act on the part of the Ministiy, which we hope will be resented by the members. It will be seen by reference to our Parliamentary news that our correspondent wires to us that the members of the House of Representatives have been served with ballot papers inviting them to vote, according to tbeir views, for or against repealing the bill passed daring the first session of the present Parliament for reducing the number of members. These ballot papers have on all of them, we lenrn, an impression of the official stamp of the House of Representatives; and the members are asked to deposit them, with the '• aye " or " nj " erased, in a box plaoed for the purpose ia the fiill Office. Our representative institutions will fall into disrepute if our members become afraid to openly declare tbeir views in Parliament, and adopt a system of' lecret voting on questions in which the whole country are interested. If the 'Ministry had any backbone in them they would come down with measures they were prepared to stake their existence on, and not use such subterfuges aa are being adopted to ascertain the popular feeling on questions in order to shape their policy. It looks as if the charge often made against the Premier was but too true, that his political policy was the " policy of subservience."

By a Press Association telegram we learn that the oable steamer ia at work on ths cable again, but communication may be restored any moment. This will account for our telegraph column being short of news duiing the last week. Mr Wilcock, President of the Conditional Immortality Association, of Wellington, will be bore shortly to deliver a lecture. Tho Waimate Club have decidbd to forfeit to Clifton on Saturday in the cup match. Mr W. Coker, of the firm of H. Collier & Co., is at preßeni in New Plymouth ; and he requests us to atata that orders left with Mr Gilaiour will receive his attention. We understand from Mr Cokor that it is the intention of his firm to recommence busiaeus ia New Plymouth. For the present they have taken rooms over tba shop occupied by Mr Gilmour, who will act as their agent until they find more suitable premises. On Saturday, oa the Racecourse, tbe New Plymouth play their second last cv p matoh against Pihuma, Tho General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland has made a grant to the Preßbyteriau missioa in Australia aad Now Zealand, to the extent of £1000. At the same time there seem grouads for anticipating that the liberality of the Church towards the colonial missions ib gradually drying up. We are glad to call attention to an announcement in our advertising columns by which it will be seen that, the juvenile members of tho Liardet- street Bind of Hops arc providing the whole of the programme for a public meeting to-morrow night. We believe thut the proceedings will be of great interest, aB we undertaud that ia addition to the ordinary leadiacs and recitations, there is to bo a liberal supply of vooal and instrumental music. Tho ohair being taken by a juvenilo will be a novel element, anl we trußt Master Hopkins will have tbe tupport of a large audience,