ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES.

Northern Advocate, 9 July 1887, Page 2

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES.

The boundaries of the Bay of Islands and Marsden Electorates arenow announced, and are substantially the same as originally mapped out by the Surveyor General before the sitting of the Commission* The Bay of Islands contains the counties of Mongonui, Whangaroa, Hokianga, and Bay of Islands, together with such of Whangarei county as is in Ngunguru riding Hikurangi : parish, and that portion of Hikurangi Biding north of. Wairua River, also the narrow strip of Hobson county along the eastern boundary of the Dargavme riding. The Marsden electorate contains the ridings of Aratapu (the township excepted), Dargaville west of Maungakahea Post Office, Wairoa, Okahu, Hikurangi south of Wairua River, Manaia, Mangapai, \Vaipu, Mareretu, Wairau, and the towa districts of "Whangarei, Kamo, and Dargaville. Notwithstanding the Act provides that community of interests are to be considered, and that the population basis is not to be arbitary ; notwithstanding that Commissioners were allowed dis-_ cretionary powers within 500 or 60(K inhabitants ; notwithstanding the fact that representation would not be affected in any way^by the Bay having

a few hundred less than Marsden ; and notwithstanding that the people of Otonga, Hikurangi, and. Ngunguru protest against severance from Marsden as incompatable with their interests, their prayer is not heard, and the population rule is inflexible. There can be but one conclusion in respect to this matter, and, the feeling uppermost in; men's minds is that v an enemy hath done this." "VVTieii it answers their purpose, howthe Government blow hot and cold. The population basis so rigidly applied to Marsden, is a thing of no effect in other places. In the South Island, as usiialj Jthe lion's share of representation is again given to it. According to population, and in the ratio of one member to 6872 of the inhabitants, the North Island would be entitled to. 40 members, and the South to '51. The;pre}sent arrangement is 52 to the Soiith and 39 to ; the North. • To talk of. a population basis in the face of so flagrant an injustice, is farcical, and. a prostitution of the represeh<;ative system under which we live, enabling the SoutH to rule over the North. How long will men continue to suffer these things? . - •