ELECTORAL LAWS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 152, 29 June 1945, Page 6

ELECTORAL LAWS

SUGGESTED CHANGE

'NO DECISION,' SAYS MR. NASH

P.A. WELLINGTON, this day. The New Zealand Farmers' Federation yesterday discussed the absence of reference in the Speech from the Throne of any proposals to a change in electoral boundaries, thus affecting the country quota. The federation decided to release to the Press, and the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Holland, recent correspondence between, it and the acting-Prime Minister.

In a letter dated June 13 the federation stated there was great uneasiness and widespread fear that the Government intended to alter tne electoral law during the Present sitting of Parliament, and asked the Government to make an early official declaration on the matter. Mr. Nash replied on June 18 that no decision ha? been made by the Government with regard to alteration to the electoral law, and, if such decision were made he would arrange for it to ße e gtSg nC tMs letter, yesterday's meeting resolved to thank the Minister for his reply, and to ask if the federation could take it that, as the matter was not referred to m the Speech from the Throne, legislation regarding the country quota would not be brought down during the present session. On June 13, also, the federation wrote to Mr. Nash in regard to the proposed' census. It recommended that, in view of the widespread displacement of population, owing to war conditions, provision should be made in the census forms for all persons displaced by direction of the Government, or ny a temporary change of residence through the present abnormal conditions, to be asked to indicate their normal domicile in addition to their present one, and that the boundary commissioner be instructed to define boundaries according to the normal domicile shown. It was pointed out that, without this provision, false delineation could easily ensue, and would endure until corrected by the next csnsus. Replying on June 18, Mr. Nash said the census was being taken" in accordance with a decision of Parliament made with the support of both sides of the House to take a census this year. "The law provides for the adjustment of electoral boundaries in accordance with population, and it is felt that the procedure provided in the legislation should be carried out this year so as to ensure that boundary readjustments are made in time for submission to the electoral boundary commissioners prior to the next election. I will, however, bring the points raised in your letter before my colleagues at the earliest possible date."