SEATS IN THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 191, 10 May 1937, Page 11

SEATS IN THE HOUSE

Revision of Electoral Boundaries START LN JULY LIKELY Although representation commissions have been appointed—one for the North Island and one for the South Is-land—-to revise the electoral boundaries of seats in the House of Representatives, there are yet certain formalities to be complied with before the commissions can begin their work. Before proceeding to adjust the boundaries of each island, the commissions meet as a joint commission to fix the quota and allot the number of seats to each island in accordance with the distribution of population revealed by the census taken last year. The Electoral Act states that the Governor-General m.ay fix the time and place for this joint meeting of the commissions and prescribe the method of procedure to be adopted. He shall also tix the period within which the commissions are to adjust the electoral boundaries. No time has yet been fixed, but it is expected that the commission will begin their work early in July.

The last revision was made in 1927, and the commissioners began their sittings on May 2 of that year. The provisional boundaries were published a few weeks later, and the time fixed for objections was June 27. The final report was sent to the Governor-General on July 7. If the 1937 commissions meet, say, in the first week of July, it seems very improbable, judging by the experience 10 years ago, that the final report will be available before the first week of October. Presentation of Report. The commissions submit their report to the Governor-General, who shall proclaim the electoral districts in the Gazette. Such report shall have the force of law from the date of proclamation, but shall not become operative until the expiry of the then existing Parliament. A copy of the report, together with authenticated maps of the electoral districts fixed by the report, must be presented by the GovernorGeneral to tlie House of Representatives within 10 days if Parliament is sitting, and if not sitting then within 10 days after the beginning of the next ensuing session. In view of the late meeting of Parliament to be held this year, it seems likely that there will be a session in progress at the time the commissions submit their report. Although the report has the force of law from the time of its proclamation, there is nothing, of course, to prevent a Government dealing with the situation by legislation in order to meet certain contingencies that might arise if the commissions’ recommendations were observed in their entirety. In fixing new boundaries the commissions have to give due consideration to the existing boundaries, community of interest, facilities of communication and topographical features. Wherever practicable the boundaries of electoral districts are to be fixed so that no licensed premises will be placed in a no-licence district. However, if a commission considers it impossible to comply with this condition the commission concerned must state the reason in its report. Fixing the Quota. The Electoral Act stipulates the procedure for fixing the quota. Twentyeight per cent, is added to the rural population, and to the figure thus obtained is added the total population of New Zealand other than Maoris. The figure then arrived at is divided by 76 —the number of European seats in the House of Representatives—and the quotient thus obtained shall be the quota. Provision is contained in the Act for adjustments of the quota within definite limits in he event of commissions finding it impracticable to observe the general conditions prescribed and at the same time form districts containing the exact quota.

The population of New Zealand other than Maoris on the night of the last census was 1,491,484. Of this number 938,939 people were in the North Island and the remaining 552,545 in the South Island. Forty-seven of the 76 European seats are already in the North Island, and it seems evident that the South Island is likely to lose another seat and possibly two. Should another seat? be allocated to the North Island it would appear from the voting figures cast at the last general election that the new district would probably have to be fitted in somewhere on the outskirts of Wellington by means of a general “squeezingup” of the existing city and Hutt electorates. The census returns of course are the correct basis of readjustment, but the election returns are a reasonably accurate guide to the distribution of population. No doubt one of the' chief difficulties facing the commissioners is the formation of electoral districts that contain the quota and do not disturb existing licences. So far as the Wellington city seats are concerned three of the electorates, Wellington Suburbs, Wellington East and Wellington South, are dry areas. Difficulties Facing Commissions.

Although the North Island Commission might be faced with the difficulty of forming a new electorate and at the same time observing the conditions laid down in the Electoral Act, the commission iu the South Island will lie faced with an equally complex problem in deciding from where the

southern electorate is to be taken. The maintenance of community of interest is also more difficult than it might, appear. The Hutt and the Wairarapa and Otaki electorates are a case in point. It is true that Wairarapa and Otaki now penetrate into the Hutt Valley, but generally speaking the Hutt has no community of interest with either of those electorates, from tlie greater part of which it Is separated by mountain ranges.

New South Wales has a comparatively simple system of adjus/ng boundaries. In that State there is a permanent electoral commissioner responsible to Parliament, who alters the boundaries according to the election figures or voting strength instead of on the basis of population as in the Dominion. Each electoral district is subdivided into several polling areas, and one of these areas can be moved from one electorate to another as the circumstances demand. This makes adjustment easier than on a population basis with a complicated licensing system with which to keep in step as well.