The Evening Star MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1906.

Evening Star, Issue 13003, 24 December 1906, Page 6

The Evening Star MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1906.

Sympathising as we do with some of the complain te concerning tho Tho Electend revolutionary work of the Botradarlts. Klectoral Ckrnimissianere especially as regards interference with historic associations and continuity of interest—we cannot hold out any hope of a change in tho arrangements that have been announced. Nor must our expression of sympathy be Tindeistood necessarily to convey disapproval of the Commissioners' deciikras, which were arrived at after full consideration of all the circumstances and possibilities of the case. It is much easier to find faarit witi the now plan* than to suggest alternatives that would obviously 'be better; and it must bo confessed that some of tie criticism, has been a little wild—the result of hasty sentiment rather than reasoned opinion. No one has spoken with more calmness on the subject than Mr Thomas Mackenzie, though he would have been ablo to plead some excuse for a grumbling outburst. He took occa-' sion to correct some of the complaints at Falmerstcn en Wednesday, pointing out that the fault (if anywhere) lay in tho law ratber tbaji ill tlio use of tlic Commas sioners' discretion. "Allusion had been "made to the breaking up of the constitu- " ency, and it had been 6aid that had tho

''late Sir John M'Kcnzic been alive this " would not have been permitted." Such a conjucture, we- may remark, is not complimentary to the memory of the great Minister of Lands—alluding as it does to that somewhat over-vigorous masterfulness which was one of Sir Johns least admirable features. It is ■unseemly to suggest that Sir John M*Kcnzio -would have endeavored to influenco tho Commissioners or to upset their law-protected decision ; and the present member for Waikouaiti takte tip a much founder and more appropriate position. "It was the lair that required to "be altered, as tho Commissioners were at " present tied hand ar.d foot, and had no "alternative to the course they had taken." At the same time, it is a big question ■whether the law- will, or should, bo altered in tho direction indicated by Mr Mackenzie, and nothing like unanimity on the matter can be looked for either in Parliament or in the country. No doubt there is something to bo said in support of the contention that '' population should not be the main factor" in tho settlement of electoral boundaries, but it is a contention usually associated with reactionary tendencies, and the urban representatives "will not take kindly to it. " The further away " from tho eeat of government the greater "should be the representation" is another doctrine that is open to the imputation of fancifulness; and it may even bo questioned whether thero is anv real relevance in tho reminder f that interference* wi*n country constituencica has " relegated many admirable men to private life." This has been an -unfortunate effect in somo cases, but it will hardly bo urged that cither Parliament or the Electoral Commissioners should give consideration to the personal bearings and poesibilitarß of their act-on. By the way, the mention of Vincent Pyke and Seobie Mackenzie (as men -who were thus relegated to private life) is of good omen, so far as the present member for Waikouaiti is concerned—seeing that both these redoubtable politicians carno back to Parliament no long time after their displacement at Mount Ida and Waihemo respectively. Even so will "Tarn" Mackenzie go back—probably without any delay at aIL Again, " commrmity of interest" is a subject which has two 6ides, and it is at least arguable that the exclusrve-V " country electorates " for which Mr Mackenzie has such a marked tenderness are less desirable than mixed elect-orates. On the other hand, while we do not feel confident that the general electoral law will be altered, it must be admitted that the relation of the redistribution of seats to tho Local Option question is not free from some striking anomalies, which may fitly engage the attention of the Legislature. Here, atrain. however, it is easior to point out the wrong than to suggest tho remedy, and it is quite possible that, tho aggrieved parties or districts may be ofbliged to accept the new arrangements with all their consequences. Still, it does not seem right that a portion of an electorate should be saddled with Prohibition without having the full right of voting in accordance with tl« principles of the Local Option legislation. This may be the result of tho redistribution in more than one instance. The lasrt Licensing Act contains a provision that " if tho grant of licensee is prohibited " throughout any area of the district con-

"taining more than half the population, of " the district, the poll shall be token under "section 12 of tho Amendment Act of "1895, as if no licenses existed in the "district"—with the tether proviso that if tho polling forbids restoration of licenses the existing licences shall continue in force until tho expiration of the current term and then lapse. Thus, to take an instance, Palmerston and Hampden once incorporated in the Oamaru electorates, the hotels at those places may be closed without the doctors/ever having pronounced for Prohibition by tho norma' three-fifths majority. Tho licenses could not bo retained unless the whole of tjho Oamaru electorate declared for license by a throe-fifths majority. A certain measure of dififranchi«!m*nt or electoral disability is involved in this procedure, and it may be expected that an attempt will bo nrado to find Gome method of rectifying the injustice. Tito Electoral Commissioners hav* nothing whatever to do with the liocal Option question, and it may be taken for granted that their action was entirely independent of tho considerations and consequences just mentioned. Parliament is competent to alter the arrangementa in thiß respect, but an available way out of the difficulty has yet to bo shown. As regards tho political readjustmente—the actual redistribution without regard to the subject of local Option—we repeat that the complainants at Tuapeka and elsewhere are not likely to meet with airy redress on thci present occasion. Parliament may even-| tually give fresh directions to the toral Commission; but any alteration <U tho law would have no force prior to tfl next General Election. For good or ifl ill, the decision recently arrived at by Commissioners will govern- the conditions when the next appeal is to tho country. lB