THE CENSUS RETURNS AND THE ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10127, 9 May 1896, Page 4

THE CENSUS RETURNS AND THE ELECTIONS.

Ministers during last session Endeavoured to postpone the periodical taking of the census, alleging a number of reasons whioh were contradictory and invalid. The regular taking of the census is a matter of great importance to New Zealand; for the constitution of our Parliament depends upon it. Amongst the reasons for postponement urged by Mr. Seddon was. that the work could not be completed in time to enable the Commissioners to adjust the districts for the general election. The House, however, would not credit this, and insisted that the census should be taken. The Ministry had to give way. But thero is still some danger. The summoning of the Commissioners, and the furnishing them with the necessary information to enable them to discharge their functions, lies with Ministers, who may cause unnecessary delay, and perhaps evoritually succeed in preventing thecompletionof the work in time. There is no valid excuse for delay. The Work of the census, with all its details, does not need to be completed to enable the Commissioners to fulfil their duties. We believe that within the next week the Commissioners could be summoned, and set to work. These gentlemen have been several times over the boundaries, and they know the oou ntry well. They could compile the report in a very short time, and mark out the boundaries of the new districts. There is no reason at all why the new districts should not be gazetted soon after Parliament meets. The present system of adjusting the districts after eaoh census was established by statute, in order to obviate the discreditable party manoeuvring whioh took place when any change of boundaries was proposed, and it has been found to act well. If it were not in existence, the South Island members could stereotype the House as it stands, whatever increase of population there might be in the North Island. It is evident that the readjustment now about to be made will tend to the advantage of the North Island. Some of our present districts are very awkwardly placed, and the new census will afford an opportunity of removing the anomalies. t For instance, the Bay of Plenty district extends into the Thames, making a widely extended and discordant electorate. That in ail probability will be improved on the new adjustment, There has been a large accession or population in the Upper Thames, and a new arrangement must be made, Then the Eden electorate is disjointed and scattered, part being on 'one side of the Waiieihata and part on. the other, with the City of Auckland and Parnell between. The figures which we have published Show that while the ' otty lias considerably increased its papula-

tion, k *$ffi MOM II ne * comers have Mm lip their residences m M mWfflj wjiidi) mw mfa larger proportional increases than the city. • At .the last general election, m 1893, the population, Eden district was 9000; now it is 11*122. There will have to be some re-arrangement here. Ihall probability it- will be found ii.Bc6Sßaty to', reconstitute the Men electorate. At fill events, no time ought to be. last by Ministfefs stomooing the Commissioners, and furnish ing thorn frith tire Material necessary to ttasble thein to alter the electoral bbuudafieS. .