REPRESENTATION.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 9, 25 June 1886, Page 16

REPRESENTATION.

Some propose to increase the representation to redress the inequality of population between the JSorth and South Islands revealed by the recent census. Some think this representation ought to be reduced — readjus.ed, so as to render justice to all. We agree with the latter ; economy forb ; ds an increase, and pleads powerfully for a diminution of representatives. But in view of the probability of the next five years giving an increase to the South Is^nd laige erough to co mterbalance the increase of the last five years in the North Island, it appears wiser to leave things as they are for another five years than incur the trouble and expense of a readjustment now. Would it not be well to follow the example of the United States, and readjust only once every ten years. Judging from a long colonial experience, our opinio i is that the loss or depression of each quinquennial is compensated for by the following, and that, consequently, it may be reasonably expected that at the end of the next five years the Colony shall find itself in possession of a representation quite large enough for the population, and in perfect proportion to the just claims of all districts of the country. Things, therefore, may very well be left as they are for a little longer. It is hardly reasonable to expect that the prosperity of the North Island and the depression of the South can continue in the ratio of the last few years. The large item of expenditure in Auckland of money borrowed by the Corporation and Harbour Board, now at an end ; the large expenditure there of money in the establishment of a sugar manufactory, now a^o at an end ; avd the large Government expenditure, also at an end for some time, forbid the expectation of the continuance of a large increase of population there in the next five years. Positis ponendis the same may be said of Wellington and of Hawke's Bay! Nor is it to be expected that depression will cortinue to sit as a nightmare on this Island for another five years. On the contrary, there is every reason to expect that we shall have our innings, of which, we a~e happy to say, there are already some indications. We think, therefore, it would be wise and economical to let things, as legards representation, remain in statu quo till after the next census.