ELECTORAL CHANGES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22191, 19 August 1935, Page 11

ELECTORAL CHANGES

SEQUEL TO NEXT CENSUS TREND OF POPULATION SOUTH LIKELY TO LOSE SEAT Any change in the distribution of electorates after the taking of the New Zealand census next April seems likely to result in the South Island losing one seat to the North Island, according to present population statistics, and not two scats, as has been suggested, says the Christchurch Press. The likelihood of the loss of one scat has been arrived at by calculation from population figures to April 30, 1934, corrected by comparison with the latest totals, published last Friday. Which seat is likely to bo eliminated cannot be known until after the census and the sitting of the Representation Commission, but present knowledge points to two main areas. The first centres on the Buller electorate and the second on Awarua or Chalmers "in the south. Findings of Commission The readjustment of seats is dependent on the findings of the Representation Commission, which deliberates after each census. The number of European seats for the whole Dominion is fixed by statute at 76, the allocation being according to nominal population, which is the total of actual urban population (cities or boroughs with more than 2000 people), and actual rural population, with 28 per cent of the rural population added. This number, divided by the total number of seats, gives the quota for each electorate. In 1927 the quota was 19,820; next year it will be about 21,700. In fixing city electorates the boundaries are made to include approximately the full quota of population; in country electorates the boundaries include a population which, with the 28 per cent added, will make up the quota. In the redistribution in 1927 the South Island lost one seat to the North Island. This was for the old Ashburton electorate, but to bring this about and leave the remaining electorates with the quota, adjustment of the boundaries of many others was necessary. The Position o! Buller Any one of three parts of the South Island may be affected by the loss of an electorate at the next distribution, although all electorates are likely to have their boundaries altered. Buller is one focal point, because even after the last redistribution its population was nearly 1200 below the quota, while the near by electorates of Westland and Motueka were each about 1000 below the quota. An increase of 2000 in quota next year, without any corresponding increase in population, must make considerable readjustment necessary in this area. Buller might be eliminated because both Westland and Motueka are sharply defined by geographical features which extend to include Buller. The next most likely scene for the loss of a seat is in the far south. Considerable readjustments may be necessary between Chalmers, Clutha, Mataura and Awarua. None of these was far below the quota in 1927, but there have been some changes of population in the nine years since the last census which, with the higher quota, may make this area the one where an electorate can most readily be excised. Of the four, Awarua and Chalmers would fit most easily into such a scheme.