The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3296, 15 August 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. TUESDAY, AUGUST 15, 1911.

The report of the Representation Com- J missioners which was gazetted yesterday will doubtless prove of absorbing interest. For some days it has been anxiously awaited, especially, of course, by members of Parliament and their prospective opponents, as well as by all who are particularly concerned in the forthcoming licensing “battle.” As regards the main feature of the report*— tile number of seats which shall be allotted each of the two main islands of the Dominion—there is surely no room for complaint from the South Island? Despite the large excess of population in the North Island over the -South Island, as revealed by the late census, the North Island it is suggested shall gain only one additional electorate at the expense of the South Island. There was a general belief, it will be recalled, that the North Island would prove the richer by at least two seats. Upon this assumption the King Country and Eden were both freely mentioned as the probable locales. It will be seen that the new electorate, which is to be called Raglan, will take in portions of Waikato, Tauranga, Franklin, and Taumarunui electorates. The quidnuncs Avere even more correct with reference to their forecasts as to what was most likely to happen in the South Island. Opinion as to which seat or seats would be extinguished seemed to waver as between Taieri and Tuapeka; and both, it is proposed, shall be sacrificed in favor of a new electorate to be called Otago Central. Whilst- Taieri wil be subdivided among its neighbours, Tuapeka, together with portions of Clutha and Bruce, will go to make up the new electorate. One result of the wiping out of Taieri will be that the Hon. T. Mackenzie will once again have to seek a fresh political field. In this respect the Minister for Agriculture has been more unfortunate than any other New Zealand politician that we can recall. Originally member for Clutha, Mr Mackenzie ten years ago stood for Waihemo, the electorate which the late Sir John McKenzie formerly field. Along came the Boundary Commissioners, and Waihemo had to sink its identity as an electorate. Mr. Mackenzie went on. to Waikouaiti, but this electorate did not survive more than a few years. And now Taieri, his latest stronghold, is doomed! If Mr Mackenzie is not selected to go Home as the next- High Commissioner, Ave- expect to find him contesting. the noAV seat to be known as Otago Central. Coming to the electorates in this part of the Dominion, it will be seek that the proposals, though not AA'hat might be called drastic, are not unimportant. As far as Gisborne is concerned, for instance, the electorate is considerably reduced in* size. The proposal in this regard is that the electorate shall extend only to the Wairca River, instead of to beyond Tongoio. As altered Gisborne will now include only that portion of Wairoa township to the north of the river. Frasertown, it appears, is also Avithin the boundaries of the iigav Gisborne electorate. With reference to the Bay of Plenty electorate, the most important proposal is the excision . of the “capital," ’ Rotorua, which will henceforth form a portion of Tauranga. In this connection it is interesting t-o note mat in an interview with our Parliamentary reporter last night, Mr. MacDonald opined that Opotiki Avill now become the chief centre of his elector, be, Avhich, by the way, stiil remains one of the largest and most unwieldy in the Dominion. Before the Commissioners come to a final determination in the matter of the boundaries, they are required to consider all objections thereto. The reports will then be forwarded t-o the Governor, after which the boundaries as fixed will be finally gazetted

Proposed Electoral Boundaries.