WEST AUSTRALIAN UITLANDERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5502, 29 February 1896, Page 4

WEST AUSTRALIAN UITLANDERS.

„ © The state of things which led to the late abortive revolution in the Transvaal has been to some extent reproduced in West Australia, owing to the sudden and extensive influx of population attracted by the gold "rush." It is pointed out in a Perth newspaper that at the present moment the population of the colony is over 100,000. At the time of the last general election the population was only 40,000, and the electors on the roll about 10,000. The increase in population since the election is about 60,000, and nearly all male adults. Only about two per cent of this number have votes.- The adult Uitlanders are as six to one of the West Australians, and these, new arrivals are not represented in the Assembly. And yet, it is contended, these men, by hard work, investing their money and eixcUi.iig_ri_.<j their lives, are promoting the best interests of the colony in every direction, and . aro taxed up to the hilt, the necessaries of life being dearer in West Australia than in any of the other colonies. In short, • all the evils .of taxation without representation seem to be springing up in West Australia. "A Disgusted Uitlander," writing on the subject, declares that his business has been nearly ruined on account of his being unable to obtain answers to his telegrams for quotations until top late, and when he did get an answer the telegram was generally so mutilated that it was impossible to understand it. It is also complained that ,an autocratic telegraph official claimed the right to alter press messages handed in for transmission. The malcontents urge that thja following political; programme should be> brought forward : — Alteration of the franchise, the one man one vote and six months' residence in the colony ; redistribution of seats ; redaction of taxation ; appointment of two additional Ministers to admurister the Public Works and Posts and Telegraphs, and the appointment of three Commiasioners to control the railways. Whether or not Sir John Forrest may be able to move- the parliamentary machine forward fast enough to satisfy the agitators for reform, there is not any danger of ti warlike rising taking place at Perth or Coolgardie, or of a filibustering expedition from, say. New South Wales invading the colony, to complete the parallel between Wes., Australia and the Transvaal. ' . ,