We, the undersigned electors of the Provincial District of Otago, humbly pray your Excellency that you will refrain from sanctioning or making any further appointments to the Legislative Council of New Zealand until after Parliament shall have assembled, for the following reasons:—

1.	That the present Ministry, being in a minority at the recent elections, do not represent the people, and have, therefore, no right to make any recommendation to your Excellency on the matter.
2.	That Sir H. A. Atkinson, the Premier, in 1887 and 1888, pledged himself not to make any recommendation for appointments to the Council until the numbers thereof were reduced to a number below" one-half of the reduced number of Members of the Legislative Assembly, nor until legislation had been introduced and passed providing for the limitation of the tenure of office of such Legislative Councillors.
3.	That as the number of Legislative Councillors at present exceed one-half of the reduced number of Members of the Legislative Assembly by three or four, no reason exists for the appointment of additional Members.