THE NEW BOUNDARIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 121, 25 May 1927, Page 10

THE NEW BOUNDARIES.

AUCKLAND MEMBERS' VIEWS.

GENERAL SATISFACTIONEXPRESSED.

BIG CHANGES IN PARNELL.

Opinions were sought from Auckland Members of Parliament this morning concerning the proposed new electoral boundaries. Generally the M.P.'s are fairly well satisfied with the changes, despite the fact that some of them expect the tight to be a little sterner at the General Election next year. Some have regained old supporters, and have at the same time, lost districts populated by friends of the party opposed to them, while in one or two instances—notably Manukuu and Auckland West—the position has been made slightly easier for the sitting Labour members. There are no hotels in the proposed Parnell electorate. Mr. A. M. Samuel, M.P. (Ohinemuri)', a new member, is naturally very disappointed with the suggested rearrangement, which will result in the disappearance of his big electorate. At the next election, should he desire to stand, he will be compelled to contest a seat under very different circumstances from those which would have obtained had Ohinemuri not been so drastically altered. The new Mercer seat will pro-bably appeal to Mr. Samuel as the one most likely to offer a fighting chance.

No Hotels in New Parnell Area. *"1 am berry to part with my friends at the lower end of Parnell," "said Mr. J. S. Dickson, M.P. (Parnell), "but I am pleased to recover my old ground at St. Heliers and Kohimarama, where J had a lot of loyal supporters who always stood by me, from my first entrance to Parliament in 1911. It seems that i have lost the main portion cf the old borough of Parnell, where 1 could always depend on very strong support, and they have increased the area of my electorate considerably. As far as Remuera is concerned, I am glad that I have got the whole of the district out to the city boundary. According to the published statement it appears that Parnell will be a dry electorate, as under the new arrangement, there will be no licensed houses in the area. The City East electorate Mill, take in the hotels previously included in Paruell. As far as 1 am personally concerned I don't mind what the alterations are. I am prepared to meet them all." "As You Were" in Auckland East. "As far as I can see, the position in my electorate is just about 'as you were, , for I have apparently gained a few supporters while losing others," said Mr. J. A. Lee, Labour Member for Auckland

JEasL "I have re-gained the area at the foot, of Parnetl, which is a good Labour corner, but I have lost the right-hand side of Symoiiids'Street and Karangahape Road, which 1 regret. The net result is to make the position of the present member for Parnell rather safer.- '■■ • • "It should be pointed out that my electorate is peculiar in that it contains a greater number of people'without a vote than any other iu New Zealand," continued Mr. Lee. "It takes in the and Mount Eden Gaol. Both these" institutions go to swell the total number of residents taken into consideration when an assessment of the population Is. made for purposes of redistribution. The position is rather anomalous. "I have certain islands in the Gulf included in my electorate, but I don't know how I came to get them. Apparently I still have them. I have a fair idea how I got them, but that, of course, is not for publication." As for the portions of the electorate where I was given fairly solid support, and which I have now lost I can only say that one naturally; regrets losing large numbers of people who had the good sense to vote for him. But, taken all round, the position is just about 'as you were.'" Manuka* Electorate Easier to Cover. Ihe proposed alterations in the boundaries of the Manukau electorate wrll give-a decided political advantage to the present representative, according to a statement given to the "Star" by Mr. \V. J. Jordan, tlie Labour member for Manukau. "As far as I can express my sentiments at the moment 1 can only say that I am sorry to lose any portion of my district, quite apart from any advantage T may gain, because 1 have

got to know the people, and they have come to know me. Apparently I have lost a portion of the area that was politically unfavourable to me, but 1 \*ould have been pleased to keep them for sentimental reasons. As it is now, I shall be able to give my constituents greater time and consideration, for the new; electorate will be smaller, and easier to eaver. With the existing boundaries I have the second largest electorate in New. Zealand, and it is difficult for any inan to do it justice. I have lost a large

part.of Remuera and part of Epsom; also Waikowhai has gone, and part of the Mount Roskill district. Apparently I have lost Tamaki, too. "However, it is my business to look after the whole of the original electorate till the separated portions are represented by another member, and residents in those areas can depend on me to do what is required," concluded Mr. Jordan. Little Alteration in City West. "My seat is scarcely affected at all," said Mr. M. J. Savage, Labour member for Auckland West. "On my reading of the published statement it seems that I have gained something in the thicklypopulated area lying between the existing boundary and the southern side of Napier Street, the western side of Hepburn Street and the north-western side of Franklin Road. I should not think that this addition would be to my political disadvantage." Changes in Eden and Grey Lynn. The Labour member for Eden, Mr. H. G. R. Mason, will be interested in tinchanges which may take place in his loctorate, but, owing to his absence from the cUy, his views could not be ascertained this morning. The Grey Lynn electorate will i, c materially affected by the proposed alterations, and the sitting Labour member, Mr. F. N. Bartram will doubtless express his views on his return from England. Mr Bartram is expected to return before the opening of Parliament towards the end of June.