There was some good debating on Tuesday night in the
Commons, but it was a little thrown away, Mr. Kimber bringing up the subject of the excessive disparities in repre- sentation, which is still a little academic. He wanted a Com- mission, like everybody else, and certainly showed that the disparities were excessive, five Irish constituencies, for example, with a total population of 104,000, returning five Members, while Wandsworth, with 120,000 people, returns only one. England has twenty-three Members less than her share, Wales two Members more, Scotland one more, and Ireland twenty more. London alone has a deficiency of nineteen Members. Sir Charles Dilke followed, deprecating a Com- mission, but hoping for legislation by-and-by, the delay being advisable, as the worst oases were in Ireland, which was shortly to be taken out of the calculation altogether. To remedy the evil entirely, the difference between borough and county representation must be abolished ; and if the old lines were maintained, redistribution would cut away many Con- servative boroughs, and the University seats. Sir W. Harcourt, of course, refused the Commission as contrary to the ideas of constitutional government—though the Government on Wed- nesday gave one for the government of London—and said that, when the reform was made, as no doubt it ought to be made, it would be "by some rule of thumb which the country recognised as quite fair." That is all very well; but the subject does not press till the Government produce their measure establishing the principle of "One man, one vote."
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