HE SUGGESTION OF A DISSOLUTION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LII, Issue 9231, 29 November 1906, Page 4

HE SUGGESTION OF A DISSOLUTION.

The allusions of the Minister for Lands to the possibility of a dissolution being necessary have been minimised by., the Premier, but es Mr McNab thought 1 it advisable to refer to the question publicly it may reasonably be assumed that the matter has been talked of in some quarters, though it may not have been seriously considered by the Cabinet. Constitutional authorities agree, we understand, that after a redistribution of Beats or any material disturbance of the. representation of the people in 'Parliament' ifc is tight and proper that .there should be a fresh election. The principle underlying this dictum is that Parliament can no longer claim to accurately reflect the will of the constituencies when great changes nave been made) in the electorates. Writing subject to correction on details, we think that in New Zealand this principle has been to some extent igsoTed since the Representation Commission was set up, and a dissolution has not necessarily immediately followed the redistribution of seats under the automatic arrangement which requires a rearrangement after every census. Probably the reason for this has been that the changes have not made any great difference, and in view of the incnTenience the ordinary constitutional rule has not been insisted on. But on this occasion, there has been, or at any "rate is likely to be an appreciable disturbance of the representation. The transfer of three votes from the South, to the North Island, which in effect means an alteration of six is a great change. The change comes moreover at a time when the political situation is somewhat "remarkable. There is a Miuistry in office -which rests on a majority, given by the country to the late Mr Beddon. *ye do not know that anyone would Have authority for asserting that the pie-

nt Ministry is not supported by a majory in the counUy. The indications are Co lat ib does possess the confidence and P° ipport of the majority of the electors, tail, that is an expression of opinion, not i ascertained fact. But further, the> Govrnment project the passing of several very "? nportant measures; the Land Bill and j revision of the tariff for example, the wrmer of which was not before the elec- „ >ts at the general elections. Having n a<gard to the position of the Ministry, be measures they propose, and the mate- to ial alterations necessary and impending in ! he electorates, it is at least arguable whe- p her they 'have a constitutional right to m iroceed without a reference to the con- s t Lituencies. The definition and proclama- gt ion of tho new districts is quite an auto- ( at :iatic procedure. Asi soon as the Commis- t g< ioners report the names and boundaries zi >f the electoral districts fixed by them to hrt Governor these are to be proclaimed by I Gazette >notice, and the Commissioners' reycftt acquires the force of law. It is not E rubjeot to review by Parliament, and there E sno machinery for in anyway revising it. V [t it true that? the new districts do not w »me into being for electoral purposes intil the expiry or dissolution of Paiiliaoaent, but there are the districts gazetbed and mapped, showing how the repre- p sem-tation is allocated, a standing asser- ti tion and witness that Parliament as con- t stituted doe 6 not altogether properly repre- n sent the people. In the face of this,, to " proceed with measures of capital import- 1] ance is calculated to raise awkward quesr- E tions. It goes without' saying that a c dissolution of Parliament would be most i inconvenient next year. The Premier proposes to leave for England early in the t year to. attend the Imperial Conference. 1 An election -could not be held during his aDsence. He can hardly get back until , June, and to have an election subsequent- '. , ly to that- would mean that Parliament , could not meet until much later than the ; usual date, and theare would be to some extent a repetition of the trouble of the ! present year. There are difficulties on both sides, and it would appear that quite an interesting political situation is opening out for consideration.