THE Thames Advertiser. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1875.

Thames Advertiser, Volume VIII, Issue 2177, 20 October 1875, Page 2

THE Thames Advertiser. WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1875.

There was..a somewhat warm debate. yesue'rday°aifcet , nb u 6n J A^en&lf 1 upoji the third reading of the Representation Bill, but it had 110, whatever upon the Government,'and they forced the abortion through.the House despite all tbe«»<protcsts that wen made against it. Mr Sheehan, the previous night, again made an effo :t to Becure a third member for tho Thames, but was defeated by a large maj Ji'ity, and'. \ve) ;,/ are "hf private telegrams from members of the Hoiise that it is quite hopeless to expect anything JJ like justice or Mil- play in jthe disgraceful scramble for seats that is cow going 00. In a .fifial testi Sir G. Grey accused the Government of so moulding the Bill as to secure support''for -themselves; bilMhi§ statement was met, we are told, by derisive laughter from, one of the Ministers. WfM'- foW^'iny(Hing to laugh or jeer at in tho statement, because it k evident ,to the meanest intellect in the colony f What principle has guided the Ministry in increasing the'Pquse of Representatives ? They did not take population as a basis, they did not take the' number'bf6let/tbr^ : <)r :i ar'ea,.oi'''tlio valjie of rateable properly; nor did they take a combination, of all tlieso and strike an 'average. $o, there was only one consideration, and that was; the ; probable return of Government supporters for the new seats. Had the Thames been considered thoroughly sound .and safe, it would have been a very easy matter for the Ministry, to have shown the House that it Was entitled 'to four members. They have, however, withheld from us as much power as Jhey possibly could, becaise no Bill would have passed the House without providing one'additional!^membervfofc the Thames, and we have no cause to feel eitfier grateful or thankful for any benefits conferiedupon 1 hs 'byHh'e 1 present occupants of the Treasury benches. That they will remain in their present position for any lengthened period after the general elections we do not believe, because not one-half of their supporters will be able to gain sea,ts in the House again, and a new Parliament will not be,quite so corrupt,; we'trust, as the present one, No doubt the. " pocket boroughs'[ will be very valuable to the Government, bufc'-tliey will meet with more general opposition than they ; seem to.anticipate. .