ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3159, 10 August 1917, Page 7

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES

RAILWAY ADMINISTRATION A COMMISSION REPORT CRITICISED FINANCIAL DEBATE RESUMED , The Houso of Representatives mot at 3.3Q p.m.- yesterday. . Mr-, P. 0. WEBB (Grey) gave notice of the War Regulations Amendment Bill. Mr. A. WALKER (Dunedin Northjgave notice of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Apt Amendment Bill., Six days' leave of absence was granted io Mr. Tan Henare, two days'to Mr. H. G. Ell, and fourteen days to Mr. R. W. •Smith. .. ' . parliamentary electorates. Proposal to fix boundaries. The Parliamentary Representation (Ex■Seditionary Forces) Adjustment Bill (the iKt. Hon.W. F. Massey) was introduced. Mr, R. M'CALLUM (Wairau) asked the fiprime Ministor to consider tho.question ■'<al fixing the boundaries of districts in ihe South Island. It appeared that for .wne time tho population of tho South rlslaiid would remain as it was, and that '■jfche population of the North Island would fgo on increasing. For this reason, ho /would urgo that tho boundaries of the : South Island electorates should be fixed, <and that the number of scats in the North Island should be increased. The position was complicated by the existence .of no-license- districts. It was most ■unfair that the Boundary Commissioners •■should have power to cut hotels out" of .license districts; by including portions of 'license districts in no-license districts. It ,Tvas a manifest injustice that tho Com-,-tnjssoners should have ths power. , The Rt. Hon. W. F. MASSEY said that an a recent Act dealing with the matter directions were given to the.Commissioners to avoid if possible extinguishing /licenses by including ipart of license districts in no-liconse districts. Mr. Anderson: It can't be done in some Sdistricts, and it would be wrong to do it. ( Mr. Massey said that there was certainly provision for the avoidance of this :«ort of thing whenever possible. He Vould look up the point before the Bill tame before the House, and it was possible that he -would give the House an •opportunity of dealing with it. In regard to the other part—tho fixing of ■•boundaries would be a very good thing if or members of Parliament and-candi-dates for Parliamentary honours, but '•(the Government had to consider how to give the -people ■equal representation. 'He wa9 told on several occasions in Britain that in some -of the electoral districts in England the '.population was very little over 1000, and that in other districts tho population, •was 50,000. These were extreme cases, but they were tho result of fixing the boundaries of districts permanently, and lie thought we should avoid falling into tho'same mistake in this country. He •was perfectly certain that neither the ■public-nor-the Parliament of New Zealand would stand it for very long. Before the next election -was held, whether it was hold in a few months or in •eighteen months, tho question of m■'creasing tho number of seats could have consideration. , , , . Mr. Pearce: There are plenty here to talk without increasing the number. Mr. Massey: Lots of people think so. The Bill was read a first time. OTHER FIRST READINGS, The Christchurch Milk Supply and Markets Amendment Bill (Mr. H. G. Ell), the Waiatarua Lake Reserve and Public Bodies Empowering Bill (the Hon. A. M. Myers), and the Wanganui Harbour Board Vesting Bill' (Mr. W A Veitch) were introduced and read a first time.