NUMBER OF M.P.’s

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29784, 29 March 1962, Page 17

NUMBER OF M.P.’s

Move To Fix S.I. Seats

An objection to toe Representation Commission against its proposal to reduce the South Island representation in the House of Representatives is proposed in a remit to toe South Island Local Body Association’s confer- ■ ence in Christchurch on Sat-1 urday. Regardless of the outcome, of the objection, toe remit,which is to be moved by a private member, proposes, that there should be a petition to Parliament this year for an amendment to the Electoral Act to increase the number of members in Parliament so that toe South Island constituencies (exclusive of toe Southern Maori seat) shall be set at not less than 30; and the number of North Island seats varied according to a quota determined on the proportion of North Island population to that of toe South Island after each census. The remit proposes that the number of Maori electorates should be that justified by the quota. The conference will also be asked to set up a secretariat for all South Island members of Parliament, to *be known as the South Island Parliamentary group, to handle matters of South Island importance.

Another remit asks for a petition to Parliament seeking the provision of adequate office accommodation for members of Parliament in Wellington and in their constituencies; private secretaries and other staff for members; and taxation on members on the same basis as that for self-employed persons.

A note to toe remit says successive administrations have treated these matters as being for toe Civil List Commission, but commissions had held they were outside their order of reference. An independent body could bring the anomalies before Parliament.