The Dominion. THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1911. ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1166, 29 June 1911, Page 6

The Dominion. THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1911. ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES.

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES. _—i We do not attach any importance to the rumours that are going about concerning changes in the electoral boundaries of the Wellington city electorates as the result of the recent census disclosures. They are purely guess-work. That there will be changes is certain, and it is not very profitable at present to waste much time in speculating as to the j direction in which the boundaries will be moved. It is provided under the Legislature Act that within three months.after the results of the census have been ascertained and reported to the Representation Commissioners, which results arc to be communicated as soon as possible, the Commissioners shall meet to divide the Dominion into electoral districts, i he approximate census returns were published early in the present month, but the checked figures have not yet teen disclosed, so that it must bo assumed that they have not yet been forwarded to the Commissioners. Probably they will be available in time for the Commissioners to present their report by October at the latest. At the census of 1906 the population of the Dominion was shown to be 833,376, exclusive of Maoris, the North Island claiming 476,732, and the South Island 411,644. At the census completed this year the population exclusive of Maoris was stated to be approximately 1,007,811, of which tho North Island claimed 563,832 and the South Island 443,778, the balance coming from tho Kcrmadec and Chatham Islands. It is provided by the Legislature Act that in estimating population for electoral purposes 28 per cent, shall bs added to the population residing ia rural districts— that is to say, outside boroughs of over 2000 population and bevoncl five miles of the Chief I'ost Offices of the cities .of • Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, and Duncdin. The result- of this addition at the census of 1906 was as follows; — Urban population 424,072 Rural population 4(51,301 Rural population plus 28 per cent 501,309 That is to _ say , that in estimating the population for electoral purposes the urban or town population remained at its actual figure, while the rural or country population was increased from 464,304 to a nominal figure of 594,309. The importance of this lies in the fact that when the Dominion was divided up into 76 seats, representing the number of European members of the House of Representatives, the quota was ascertained by dividing 1,018,381 by 76, instead of dividing the actual population Of 888,376 by that number. The quota ..thus' ascertained was 13,400. This means that every electorate wis supposed to contain 13,400 of the population. In the city electorates this was actually the ease; in the rural electorates the actual population was less than 13,400, the balance being made up by the addition of the 2S per cent, mentioned.

It is not possible to estimate exactly on the figures 'so far supplied the quota for tho new doctoral divisions. It can be taken for granted, however, that it will be increased from 13,400 to something like 15,000, possibly a little more. This will mean some very considerable changes in the boundaries of existing electorates, for the increases in population naturally have not been evenly distributed over the Dominion, and adjustments will have to be made accordingly. In this connection it is expected that the North Island will gain, a couple of seats and the South lose a corresponding number. It is of interest at the moment to note the position of the Wellington city and suburbs scats. The figures which we give below are the actual totals of population for the seats named as disclosed by the census returns of 1906 and 1911: —

1906. ' 1911. Wellington North 13,309 12,919 „ • Central 13,379 10,094 South 13,333 14,731 East 13,321 14,077 „ Suburbs 12,344 19.G14 Hutt 12,759 15,217 A portion of the Hutt electorate as at present constituted is in the rural area, and its nominal quota was brought up to 13,723 by the addition of 23 per. cent, to the rural portion its population. It will be seen from the figures quoted above that the city seats will require some rearranging to bring them all up to tho 15,000 approximate quota estimated. At the present time the Suburbs scat stretcnes in along straggling semi-circle from Worscr Bay to Tawa Flat and Ngahauranga, including Miramar, Kilbirnie, Maranui, Island Bay, South Karori, Karori, Northland, Wadestown, Kaiwarra, Ngaio, Khandallah, and Johnsonville. Seeing the enormous gain in population in this electorate the simplest means of making up the deficit in the city seats, and at the same time preserving the community of interest as far as possible, would be to spread the Wellington South electorate towards Miramar and Island Bay; to extend the Central seat into the existing South territory and towards Karori; while the North electorate, which at present includes the bulk of Kclburnc, would lie extended towards the adjoining suburb of Northland and the south end of Tinakori Road at one corner, and take in Goldie's Brae and vicinity at its north-western boundary. The East scat, if necessary, could be extended to include a portion of Kilbirnie, at present in the Suburbs electorate. This would seem to be the simplest way of readjusting the city boundaries, while at the same time

preserving as far as possible the community of interest. The llepresentation Commissioners will, of course, have their own opinion oil the'subject, but wc shall not be at all surpiised to sec a icadjustment somewhat upon the lines stated, with Lhe Suburbs seat as the key to the position