THE REPRESNTATION ACT.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12934, 14 October 1907, Page 7

THE REPRESNTATION ACT.

PROPOSAL TO INORBASB THE NUMBER, OF MEMBERS.

{mcinj. to rakss.")

WELLINGTON, October IS

The movement with a view to an alteration in tho Representation Act is being revived. The last meeting or the Representation Oommiasioners resulted in a readjustment of boundaries, whereby, owing to the alteration in population, the South Island i* to lose end the North Island to gain, three members. Some of the South Island members are anxious to retain the old constituencies, and with that object in view they propose that the present number of members should be retained for the 6outh Island and that as a quid pro quo the North Island should have allotted to it three more constituencies. * The propeeel would mean increasing the nwnber of members of Parliament from 80 to 83. Under this proposal, in next Parliament the North Island would hay* six members more than at prfeent, while the South Island would retain ita present status. Mr Thomaa Mackenzie, whose present constituency disappears altogether, ia. arrangine a deputation to the Premier on thjp iubject. The proposal is, however, likejv to meet with very strong opposition, because the change is thought aj matay to be unnecessary, and the expenae of the legislativo machine ie already too great.