ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES

Evening Star, Issue 25523, 29 June 1945, Page 4

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES

NO REFERENCE IN SPEECH FROM THRONE FARMERS PRESUME COUNTRY O.UOTA SAFE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 29. The New Zealand Farmers' Federation yesterday discussed the absence of reference in the Speech from the Throne of any proposals to change the electoral boundaries, thus affectingthe country quota. The federation decided to release to the Press and to- Mr Holland recent correspondence between it and the Acting P.rime Minister. f In a letter dated June 13 the federation stated that there was great uneasiness and widespread fear that the Government intended to alter the electoral . law during the present sitting of Parliament, and asked the Government to make an early official declaration on the matter. Mr Nash replied on Juno 18 that no decision had. been made by the Government in regard to alteration of the electoral law, and if such decision were made he would arrange for it to be announced. Regarding this letter, yesterday's meeting resolved to thank the Minister for the reply, and to ask if the federation could*'take it that, as the matter was not referred to in the "Speech from the,Throne/', legislation regarding the country quota would not be brought down during the present session. On Juno 13, also, the federation wrote to Mr Nash in regard to the proposed census. It recommended that, in view of the widespread displacement of population owing to war conditions, provision should be made in the census forms for all persons displaced by direction of the Government or temporary change of residence through the .present abnormal conditions to be asked to indicate their normal domicile in addition to their present one, and that the houndary commissioners he instructed to define boundaries according to the normal domiciles shown. It was pointed out that without this provision false delineation could easily ensue, and would endure until corrected by the next census.

Replying on June IS. Mr Nash said tho census was being taken in accord with the decision of Parliament, made with the support of hoth sides of the House, to take a census tins year. "The law provides for the adjustment of electoral boundaries in accordance with population, and. it is felt that the procedure provided in the legislation should be carried out this year so as to ensure that houndary readjustments are made in time for submission to the electoral houndary commissioners prior to next election. I will, however, bring the points raised in your letter before my colleagues at the earliest -possible date."