NO COMMUNITY OF INTEREST

Evening Star, Issue 25769, 16 April 1946, Page 4

NO COMMUNITY OF INTEREST

FARMERS ENTER PROTEST Complaints that communication between districts in the various electorates had been wholly disregarded in the fixing of electoral boundaries, and that community of interest did not hold in the new areas, were made at this morning's meeting of the Otago Provincial Executive of the Federated Farmers of New Zealand. '■- Introducing the subject, the chairman, Mr J. S. Hunt (Wanaka), said that, the opinion had been expressed that the party in power was more or less disappointed with the result, and that the Opposition were pleased with the way the final boundaries had worked out. He thought that they could perhaps go on to other business. " They have made an unholy mess of it," commented Mr J. S. Mosley (Stirling). "They have split up all community of interest." Mr J. Andrew (Hyde) said that there should be a protest as far as the bottom end of. the Central electorate and the Mataura district were concerned. Protests were being made from Gore and elsewhere. "That applies to the northern end of Central Otago 'also," said Mr J. Muir (Galloway). " Central Otago has just been a chopping block." " The position is most unsatisfactory as far as rural electorate are concerned," said Mr J. S. Elliot (Middlemarch). He moved a resolution-in protest: "That, in the opinion of this executive, the size and extent of electorates in the South Island are such that service cannot be given by elected representatives, and that community .of interest has been wholly disregarded." The motion was seconded by Mr A. S. Orbell (Waikouaiti). " Let's face it," said Mr J. Preston (Goodwood). "Population has shifted to the North Island. Our only effective protest is to have more children, and make them stay here."