LARGE PARLIAMENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 229, 26 August 1935, Page 2

LARGE PARLIAMENT.

REPRESENTATION BASIS.

SOME COMPARATIVE FIGURES. The probability of the South Island losing a seat or two to the North Island, when the Representation Commission sits after the census results of next April are known, becomes a matter of immediate interest to all political interests. Possible alterations in the boundaries to elimate electoral districts are being discussed in the South while the North looks on and, maybe, smiles (says the Auckland Herald). Think, however, what turmoil there would be if there was a prospect of the ruling party deciding to alter the basis or representation with a view to reducing the membership of the House of Representatives to, say, 50. There are many people who believe that a change in that direction is desirable in the interests of economy and justifiable on the grounds of efficiency. A House of 80—76 Europeans and four Maori members—for a population of one and a-half millions gives a numerical standard of representation that is exceedingly high. The population figures for the various European electorates, given in the last returns, range from about 15,000 to 20,000 and the rolls of electors from about 9000 to 18,000, the majority being a few thousands inside these extreme totals. AUSTRALIA AND EUROPE. '

In some of the Australian States the basis of representation is comparable with that of New Zealand. Switzerland lias a system that gives one member for every 22,000 and Belgium fixes the stanclerd at one for 40,000. Denmark and Norway are rather more generous and the Irish Free State has about the same basis as New Zealand. But in France there is one member for 65,000 and in Britain tlie average constituency is slightly higher. The general rule appears to be that the smaller the population of a country the higher is the basis of representation. New Zealand began on a very high scale, as did also other young countries. The reason was partly due to the manner settlements were scattered over the land and separated from one another by wide areas of virgin country. Community of interest was absent and the very nature of pioneering development made electorates with small populations inevitable. The allocation of funds tor the devolpment of railways, roads and bridges created rivalries which looked to voting strength in Parliament for satisfaction. A further justification for adopting a low population standard for electorates u\as the difficulty of travel in rural districts. Many a member had a stern task every year in touring his district on horseback.

Railways and roads," the telegraph, the telephone and the motor-car have changed the conditions of a not fardistant past, but still we have a House of Representatives with 76 European seats.