Extra Seats In Parliament

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31304, 25 February 1967, Page 14

Extra Seats In Parliament

CFrom Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, February 24. North and South Island European population totals for electoral purposes, now ' certified by the Government Statistician, Mr J. V. T. Baker, confirm that Parliament will have 84 seats, four more than at present, in the 1969 General Election. The South Island will have one and the North Island three of the extra seats. Mr Baker has reported to the Surveyor-General, Mr P.

Gough, that in terms of the Electoral Act, 1956, the North Island had a European population of 1,673,305 and the South Island, 755,659 at the census last year. The report clears the way for the preparation of new constituency boundaries under the Electoral Amendment Act, 1965. 25 S.I. Seats That law provides that the South Island will have 25 European seats, one more than at present. The South Island will continue to have 25 European seats into the future and North Island representation will be revised after each census to heed proportionate changes in, u population

matched against population trends in the South Island. One twenty-fifth of the reported South Island population gives a quotient of 30,226, to the nearest whole number, which when divided into the North Island population total, guarantees the latter island 55 European seats, again to the nearest whole number.

At present the North Island has only 52 European seats. The existing four Maori seats are unaffected by the new formula. Maps Planned

The report from Mr Baker is the basis on which Mr Gough will work in preparing detailed maps showing the distribution of population. In turn, the maps will be used by a representation com-

mission, yet to be established, in revising boundaries of electoral districts. The commission will be established later this year and is unlikely to report until next year. It will consist of the Surveyor-General, the Government Statistician, the Chief Electoral Officer, the DirectorOeneral of the Post Office, a Government nominee, an Opposition nominee and an independent chairman.

Two of the new constituencies are expected to be created around Auckland, one around Wellington and one around Christchurch. The expansion in the number of seats may mean that many of the new constituencies may bear little resemblance to existing ones.