HISTORY OF QUOTA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21852, 24 October 1945, Page 4

HISTORY OF QUOTA

OPER ATED SINCE I SSI NORTH-SOUTH CHANGES The country quota, the abolition of which is provided for in the Electoral Amendment Bill introduced in the House of Representatives last week, has operated in New Zealand since 1881. First fixed at 33 1-3 per cent, it was reduced to 18 per cent in 1887. but increased in 1889 to 23 per cent, at which it has since remained. The effect of this is to give 100 rural votes the same value as 128 towij or city votes in the determination of electoral boundaries. After each population census the Dominion is divided into 76 European electorates, according to population distribution. In computing the population for this purpose 28 per cent is added to the rural population, which is defined as all persons living outside towns of 2000 inhabitants and over, or not within five miles of the chief post offices of the four main cities.- The total population with this addition is then divided by 76 (the number of European seats in the House) and the ciuotient thus obtained forms the quota. As it would be impossible to divide -the country into districts _ all having a precise quota of population, the law permits a variation of up to 1250 persons in the formation of rural districts and one of 250 for urban districts. Drift of Population The country quota is designed to avoid in a basically agricultural country a preponderance in Parliament of representatives whose viewpoint may be essentially urban by association. The drift of population from the country has already been indicated by last month’s census figures so far published, and the proposal in the Bill to revise boundaries on an adult suffrage basis makes it evident that the rural areas must lose representation in Parliament. The official report on the 1936 census states: “There are very distinct differences between the ages of urban and rural communities. . . . Rural populations have a much higher proportion of children and of young persons, and even a slightly higher proportion of in the twenties. . . In short, urban populations are older than rural populations. The majority of hospitals, old people’s homes, etc., are in urban districts, which has some little effect in augmenting the higher groups on the urban side and reducing similar groups on the rural side.” The number of North Island members in the House of Representatives is at present 48 against 28 from the South Island. In 1891 the South Island had 40 members and the North Island 30. In 1906 both islands had equal representation with 38 members each. The other four seats in the House are made up by the representatives of the four Maori electorates.