Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th 1017 PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION.

Greymouth Evening Star, 26 September 1917, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th 1017 PARLIAMENTARY REPRESENTATION.

Thu readjustment of the electoral boundaries now being undertaken by tlie Representation Commissioners is a matter of grave import to the people of the West. Coast and we feel bound to confess • that we fear the result will be the loss of a seat on the West. Coast. The principle that the representation of the people in l.u----1 lament shall be determined on the basis of population has been definitely accepted by the Dominion and it 1., a principle which is not readily assailable, Of that principle tlie North; Island iy now deriving the benefit.

Tlie South Island, which benefited by it in the past, cannot begrudge the ' North Island the advantage that is J now being enjoyed by it through the fact that its, population is increasing ( at a relatively much greater rate than j the population in the South Island. Moreover, the relative disproportion between the populations of the two islands i lS i bound to increase. There is no escape from this conclusion. J’iie. clo.-.er settlement of the land, for which there iyi still a great deal of room in the South Island, may check to some extent the norlhwaid dnft of population, but, on the other ..aml, tlic tact cannot be ignored” tnat there a;e vast areas of land hi the North island that are in tin undeveloped condition, and the settlement of ‘ these will, in the years to come, ab- . ,i a large population, with results !oii will re-act upon the cities and

towns in that island. Tin* "Otago Daily Times,” which is perturbed at the prospect of Otago losing a scat, . has gathered some interesting data ; showing the effect of the census returns upon the parliamentary repreI ; o'.nation of the people by the figures idative lu the two islands for successive census years: —

North Island South Island members. members. ] Prior to 1891 ... 30 40 , 1896 ... 31 39 ( 1901 ... 34 36 ] 1906 ... 33 30 1911 ... 41 35 1916 ... 42 34 1 t ll will be seen that, since 185)1. the . representation of the North Island has iucieased by twelve members, and that of the South Island hits decreas'od by six members, although in the interval the strength of Parliament has itself increased by six members. In other words, the North Island lias taken six members from the South Island, and lias iu addition, appropriated to itself the whole of the six imw scats that have been created. Moreover, it stands, to- sain at least two additional seat si—with the chance of a third -a S i the result of the census that was taken last- year. This census; showed that between 1911 atnd ''•Uti the population of the North Islaixl increased from 563, l> l3 to 651,072. and that of the South Island from -114,735 to 118,377. Jhese thnires however, are misleading in

1 lie respect that they credit the North Island with the members! of the Expeditionary Forces who were in camp on the census night. It seems desiiable, therefore, for the purpose of a rough computation of the effect of the census on the representation, to take the figures which show the population of the electoral districts and exclude the persons on trains or in military and internment camps on the census night. According- to these figures, the population of the electoral districts hi the North Island was 0-11,5)70 and that of the electoral districts in the - South Island wa h i I18,I.)8. After taking into account the allowance of ■JB per cent, which is made in favor of rural districts in the determination of a basis for the adjustment of representation, we conclude that the quota for an electoral district will h® about 10,170. If so, the' North Island will certainly be entitled to -11 members in the next and it mav possibly claim -15. The doci-

siou as between -14 and 15 will depend upon tli© weight that, is giveto to fractions. If the North Island is allotted 15 members, the representation of (lie South Island will drop to 51 members, the strength ot the House being 70. together with four members representing' the Native race, which, we may observe, is, on the population basis entitled to three members only. We- agree with our contemporary that if the South Island i» to lose two seat* one- of these will certainly be taken from the group of that are bounded by the sea. on the .West Coast, and the other will probably have to be sacrificed by the country districts in Otago. The eflect will, oj course, be to extend the areas of Uu districts! that remain in these portions of the islandsi. But some of the existing districts arc already so extensive that an increase in the size of then, may limit the electors’ choice of representatives! to men of means anc leisure. The Westland electorate, foi example, which is, with two exceptions, Die least populous in the Solid: Island, will have to be largely extended in order that the quota, requirement may he satisfied. Prior b the census of 11)11 this electorate wa.* TIG miles; long ,and its greatest width was 3*J miles. It then covered, an area of over 3i million acres. lt«i dimensions were extended after, the cen «us of I till to a degree which has not been officially recorded- A further ex tension of it will render it practically impossible for any candidate to visit the whole of it during an election campaign. The liurunui electorate, which is the least populous in the South Island, covered an area of over 3] million acres prior to- 11)11, and has since been extended : the Wakatipu district, at the same time comprised nearly -11 million acres; the Wallace electorate, about the. most extensive in the Dominion comprised nearly 1 y million acres. The three last-named electorates! arc all more compact than Westland, but (Tiey arc all that, in common with Westland, will have to- be extended in consequence' of the increase in the quota, upon which representation will have to be based in the pending adjustment of boundaries. It is, however, certainly not in the public interest that electorates! should be swollen to an extent which would render them ‘‘unworkable.” A possible alternative isi an increase in the number of members of Parliament, so regulated that the representation of.the South Island should continue as at present, and that the North Island should receive the benefit of its expansion in population in the cieatiotn of additional seats. The idea, of enlarging the Parliament is one to which, it is to be admitted, legitimate objection may, be taken. It is necessary-, however, to make a. choice between two evils., and we agree with the “Times” that the time has arrived when the Legislature should consider whether this choice should not be made.

The, Red Cross Rnndaße Committee meet, at the Town Tinll to morrow (Thorsday) afternoon at '2.30. Full attendance is requested.—;Advt.

The Chief Postmaster has received advice that the Westport-Rcefton cars are held up by floods, and may leave later. The Rccfton-Nclson car is blocked at Inaiigahua Junction owing' to the unsafe condition of the combined Buller-lnanga-hna- bridge. For bronchitis or asthma inhale Nazol' through the Nazol Inhaler. Immediata relief will follow. Nazol is penetrating and germ-killing. Start taking it to-day. —Advt. Owing to tlie increased cost of paper and the scarcity of supplies, subscribers are notified that in the case of overdue subscriptions, delivery of the Star will be conceded without further notice. Subscriptions for the quarter ending September 301. ii are now due and payable at the office at once. Special Value.—Violet Copying Pencils, 6d each, or 5s 6d per dozen, obtainable from A. E. Kilgour's, the shop for value. —Advt.

“I was iu London during one of the air raids and saw the, killed ami wounded kiddies being taken away from one of the great schools. 1* leave the sight to your imagination ; you can guess how we felt. !• don't understand the point of view of the ‘anti-reprisal’ people in Falkland. Relieve me. reprisals are the-only arguments that appeal to the Hun miiuß wrote' Sergt. Hugh Linklaler on July 19th .iu a. letter to the Mayor of Ross.

“Do as I do, and use, the famous *No Rubbing’ Laundry Help on washing days. Tfc saves clothes time and labor. Only Is for seven weekly washings. Local grocers.”—Advt. Accidents iu factories last year numbered 1171, as against 1065 in the previous year. Of the number, 938 were slight, 144 moderate. 84 serious, find 5 fatal. The Labor Department accounts for the increase with the suggestion that it is probably due in some degree to the employment of a, larger proportion of inexperienced workers. During the year there were 67 accidents reported under the Scaffolding Inspection Act. Eight which were fatal wore due to falls from scaffolding. etc., and not to faulty construction of gear. From time fo time we have had fainthearted attempts to solve the cost of living problem, but what you want is not a few outside lines reduced in price to

eatch trade, but an all-round reduction

of everything you need daily. Now you are going to nave it for wo arc talcing a hand and on Saturday iiext we start our all cash system of trading. Wo are closing our books, and have had our premises enlarged to cope with the extra trade. We intend to give you the benefit of purchasing first-class goods that hare heen bought for cash at practically pre-war prices. Our prices are going to compare favourably with any part of the Dominion. Beck and Co., Mackay Street, Greymonth. —Advfc. At a recent trotting meeting at Richmond, Melbourne, one of the winning riders was a-, veteran 70 years of ago. On the same course, on August 27th, Mis Ivollv, who comes from Wcsfcni Australia, succeeded in binding her trotting marc, Creole McKinney, a. clever winner in a field of 20 in the £IOO event for unhopplcd trotters. She has had a good deal of experience in riding in trotting races, and recently won a trotting event at Dronin on the same marc. Mrs Kelly, who was loudly cheered had to survive

a protest from the rider of the second horse, Harddisk, on the ground that she had ridden at a, trotting meeting not registered by the V.T.A. The stewards dismissed the protest, and also ordered that the deposit'of £5 lodged with it he forfeited. ‘That coin is well' spent which saves

you ten.” —Proverb. You will save much expense and annoyance by preventing' a cough or cold with the timely aid 'of Baxter’s Lung Preserver. A big bottle of this famous preparation costs only Is lOd. An occasional dose will vitalise your system, and ward off colds and bronchial affections. Keep a bottle handy during the present changeable weather. Baxter’s Lung Preserver is unique in its healing ami soothing qualities—gives immediate relief in cases of sore throat, tickling cough bronchitis, etc. Pleasant to good tor young and old.—Advfc. The 'movement to gain more daylight for the country’s work by changing the time of ail clocks is gaining headway, says the New York Outlook. It deserves to gain for it contemplates many obvious advantages; hut before the daylight-savers can convince the country of tiic value of their proposal they must eliminate a. good deal of the confusion which still clouds that reform. The recent conference of the National! Daylight Saving Convention in New York city boro witness that this reform is already so popular among Americans that this country may soon follow the load of 10 European countries that have already begun to make the most of their daylight. It seems to be the most popular view among the delegates to the convention that five or five and a-half months during the longer days of the year was about the right period for observing the new time. The city of Detroit, which recently moved from the eastern limit of the'Central time zone to the western limit of the Eastern time zone, thereby unofficially endorsed the principle of daylight saving. Ihe most obvious advantage of this reform is an economic one; that- is the gain which results from the saving of gas, electricity, and other artificial light. But the gain to the public health, through the saving „f eye-strain and the, gain of more time for exercise in the open air ought not to he overlooked. When colds and influenza are prevalent let Nazol protect your family. One dose „ day keeps colds away. Good for. all ages. 60 doses 1/6. —Advt. The following gem (writes the Auckland Star’s London correspondent) is too good to. keep hidden under the light of a bushel or a trench helmet, and it should appeal to the community of Scots who form so large a proportion of the population of the Dominion. An article in a French paper describes King George as a salmon fisher. Herewith a translation, more or less literally: ‘‘He ia anlang.oi of the first force this King of Britain. Behold him th.cro as he sits motionless under his umbrella, patiently regarding Ids many-colored floats. How obstinately be contends with the elements ! It is a. summer day of Britain: that is to say. a day of sleet and fog and tempest. But what would you? It is aft theyJoVe it, those who would follow tho sport. Ticsentlv tiic King’s float begins to. descend My God! but how he strikes! The hook is'implanted in the very bowels of the salmon, The King rises. He spurns aside his footstool. He strides strongly and swiftly towards tho rear. In good time the salmon comes to approach himself to the hank. Aha! The King has oast aside his rod. Ho hurls liimsm. flat on the ground on his victim. They splash and struggle in the icy Name of a dog ! But it is a hraw laddie! The "illie a kind oi outdoor domestic, administers the coup-de-grace with lm pistol. The King cries with a wry shrill voice: ‘Hip! Hip! Hurrah! On these red-letter days his Majesty George dines on a haggis and a whisky grog Like a true Scotsman, he wears only a kilt. In foreign countries you come into competition with the best of goods from everv land. An article must have merit of the highest order to win esteem. _ In many of these countries Chamberlain a Congb Remedy is the most popular medicine in use for roughs and colds bemuse it tbe best. Sold by Kettle Bros., Grey mouth. —Advt.

The directors of the Karamea. Butter Factory have decided to pay out Is 6d per pound for butter-fat «for August and September.

The best costs least when you buy Nairn!. Sixty doses of this sterling remedy for coughs and colds cost cighteenpcncc — and every dose does good.—Advt.

The West Coast Fanners’ Co-operative Company’s factory in Croymouth roppened this week. The Company ha.vo just installed a new “Simplex ’ churn, capable of dealing with the amount of butter-fab compared wi'n the one formerly in use. The supplies of fat for the opening days show an increase when compared with the opening days of Idst season.

When buying Nazal—the money-saving remedy for coughs and colds —look for the name Nazol on the red carton. No cold is Nazol-proof.—Advt.

It is understood that the Overseas Produce Committee has chartered the Union Steam Ship Company's steamer Comma, with the view of her utilisation in the conveyance of frozen produce from ports on the West Coast of the North Island to Wellington. The object of the arrangement is apparently, to save the time that would otherwise lie spent by the Home steamers in picking up cargo at Waitara. and Wanganui.

Orders for tho special Christmas number of tho Auckland Weekly News, which will contain a number of colored plates of tho world-war, may he booked with the local agent Mr W. Bold, bookseller and stationer. price 1s 5d. —Advt.

New dress regulations appear in General Orders. It is notified that General Order No. 60T917 permitting certain officers of the New 'Zealand Expeditionary Force to wear in New . Zealand forage caps, soft pattern, is cancelled. I lie wearing in the Dominion of this article of dress, commonly known as the “soft trench cap,” or any other soft-lop caps, by any officer, warrant officer n.c.o. or any man of the New Zealand Forces is prohibited. Owing to difficulty in nrocuring felt hats, service dross caps will lie issued to Senior Cadets in place thereof during the period of the war.

The dance in the Druids' Hall on Monday alight, under the auspices or (lievrnouth Battalion Band, was ver\ successful, over forty couples attending, notwithstanding the nnprojiitions weather conditions. The music was very highly appreciated hy those present. and is quite a feature of this Bands socials. An excellent supper was provided hy the Ladies’ Committee. Mr T. Collins carried out tho duties of M.(‘. in his usual capable style. Extras were played by Miss Hansen and tbe function angnml well for a, successful season and increased popularity of these dances.

Acts like a charm ! That’s what thousands say of Na.zol —the handiest and surest remedy for coughs and colds. 60 doses 1/6. Refuse substitutes. Ad\t.

Writing from France, in a. letter to the Mayor of Boss (Mr Jos. Orimmond). Sergeant Hugh Linklater says: “Things are going on well towards the- great victorious end. We have been on the move a good deal lately, and worked for some time with part'of the French Army amljvero soon on ilic best of good terms wiln tne fine fellows wo met there.' We saw a. lot of new country and were much impressed hy tile splendid crops everywhere in evidence. 1 returned from leave about three weeks ago. The first tiling that struck me in England was the relatively small amount of land under close cultivation. The Hun can never hope to starve France or Belgium. The amount of work done on the farms hero by the womenfolk and old men is truly wonderful.

Orders are now being taken for the special Christmas number of the Auckland Weekly News hy A. E. Kilgour; price Is 6d, postage t ( l. To save disappointment, order without delay, as only a limited number will ho on sale. Advt.

A most successful dunce whs given by the Citizens’ Silver Band in the Band Hall on Monday evening last. Hming the winter mouths lovers of the Ugh*' fantastic have spent many pleasant am enjoyable evenings under the auspices ot the'Citizens’ Band, and last night they were able to demonstrate to the public, their ability and at the same time clear a, handsome' sum with which to del ray the cost of the new instruments. Ibis dance appears to be an ideal home for entertainment, judging by the way it wa ; attended, there being 50 couples on the floor, and all seemed to he having a ileIHitfnl time, dancing to excellent music supplied bv L. Cochrane piano) and Messrs B. Crumpton and M • Hem- - (on (cornets!, extra dances bennr nicely played by Miss McGrath and Mr T. bum The Committee have decided not (o hold their learners’ dance next Monday evening owing to their annual hall la v'n , place on the Tuesdav. Further particulars will be advertised later.