The mere population basis is never adhered to in any country in the world ; if it were in Great Britain the result would be that London would send to Parliament! more members than the whole of Scot. land. It is felt, however, by the country members — to quote the one referred to above — that while the country districts might have been able to stand a nominal 18 per cent upon #5 members, the reduc tion to 70 would leave the (Jiatricts so large as to make it impossible that any one man could efficiently represent them. Even as regards number, if electors are taken into account instead of the entire popu. lation, the country electors are as three to two to town electors proportionately to population. "So very reasonable, " say the country members, " are bar demands that there would not have been a word against them from any quai'ter U the thing had been taken on Its merits. " The member is then asked what are the real grounds of the opposition, and his reply is so shrewd -and apparently ao ' probable an interpretation of the views ' rf the town party that we give it in full 1 %& reported :— ' Moat of the town membs.s have corn* j nit ted themselves strongly to a r .(Jtie'ion of nembors, and thi-y now see th« sauoue latare g£ the proposal without altogether ( laring to back out of i 1 :. In this "town and >ou&try eqaubble they saw their brmc from bo first. They say, in effect, vMo'iever i vay thn bill goes we wil! g<" thi- -umber of • nembcrs reetored. If 25 pur cen< is or.rried l <fc are fairly absolved from the reduction of * netnbere, b> cause we cm then eay tha* che >C.ion of the country members haa forced os * o bake our choice of evila, and w«'Jl chotae yhat we can coutead is the lose— ii.aiely, he return to the 91. I*, on the other h : nd, a re Huceeasfu'.ly etonevvall the bill, then we'll c iut the cointry members in Buoh a fix with I b^ir huge districts that they will only be oo glad to help as to resfcor.f) the number to 1, bo thab we gain every way. 