TELEGRAPHIC

Inangahua Times, Volume II, Issue II, 15 August 1881, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC

*~-~ -. [BY ELECTItIC TELEGRAPH.] [FKOM OTJB, OWH CO-RESPONDENT.] HOUSE OF BEPRESENTATIYES. Wellington, August 9. There is little chance of the passing of the Redistribution of Seats Bill. Wellington, August 10. In the House, Brown asked the Go« vernment ip take up the Gold Duty Abolition Bill. .*',« *"-\\ ' N Se^clon supported. J., B. Fishar objected, on the ground that other important questions, stood be« fore it on the Order Paper, and that the question of abolition might be referred to constituencies. Rolleslon said the Government con« sented to the second reading on the understanding that the Bill would be altered in Committee so that the local bodies should settle the amounlg of duty and de» dined to take up the Bill. Replying to J. B. Fisher, the Minister for Defence stated that long service pay had only been given to about 20 men of the Otago police, who had joined and were in receipt of that pay on Abolition. VVallis has introduced a Bill to make Parliamentary elections annual. Fisher's motion for return of all monies paid t:> or on account of mem' ers of late Koyal Commissions was agreed to. The report of the Committee on the New Plymouth harbor works finds that the lowest cost of the work would be £97 396 more than the Board's available funds, that such works would not be sufficient, and that the evidence disproves that the woik would be of any special volue to the colony. The Committee recommond the immediate stoppage of works, the Government to take <mr the assets and liabilities, pay latter and devote the land fund to ordinary purs poses. August 12. The Ee-distribu!ion of Seats Bill was the most important measure before the House yesterday. The Bill fixes the number of representatives for the colony at ninetys'one, inclusive of JVlaories. In moving the second reading, the Premier said if he could induce the House to deal satisfactorily with the question, he would ask them to agree to Hare's system of Representation. He hoped to live to see tliis in force, but it wa3 no use trying to go in advance of public opinion. The only thing to do now was to re-ndjost representation. With regard to this number it should suit constituencies and not constituencies suit the number of members. There was an objection to a small House, because it left too much importance in the hands of member?. On the other hand, too large a House led to waste of time, and an extra strain on the country. Gislx-rne followed with an amendment to this eflV»cfc : — (1 ) That basis of popu« 1-ilion a'one in distribution of represents-

tion is not suitable to I lie requirements of the colony. (2) That the principle of dividing the whole eo'ony into single electoral districts is unsatisfactory. He was more emboldened to more the amend* raent as the Bill was not to le con« sidered a party measure. This Bill was in conflict with the views previously ex pressed by the Premier, and would dis* franchise .parts of the country. Grey, Sheehun, and Fox, followed, the two former opposing, and the latter favouring the measure. The debate was adjourned until Tuesd«y next,