AFTER THE CENSUS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7446, 22 May 1911, Page 1

AFTER THE CENSUS

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES WELLINGTON'S SIS SEATS IN THE 1 HOUSE. WILL THEBE BE ANOTHER ? ' ! Though the census total is about two hundred thousand , off the final tally* it has become evident that the North Island will take at least twfls easts .from: thestouth as a result of the- flow of population northwards,since the 1805 .census; The .Representation. Commissioners - vvill pro-, bably be ready to commence 'their ‘re- j arrangement of' electoral boundaries inj six weeks' time. When they sat in 1905,1 the populations 'of the respective islands was north, 476,732,. south 413,041. A HIGHER QUOTA. . The Commissioners, in allocating .dis-ti-iots for the seventy-sis European members “ are entitled to 1 add 25 per cent, to the rural population, 'and when this was dene, the 1 total divided hy seventy-sis- was, 13,400. This year, .the queta is likely to • be at least 2000 higher for each 'honstifu-/ ency, so that Wellington’s increase of 13,600 (mostly in Suburbs and Hutt cloc- j toratee) is likely to be swallowed _up in the extra quotient on the sis seats in and around the city. LOCAL MEMBERS’ VIEWSThe views of some of the members , representing these seats 'wore obtained by a “New Zealand :■ Times" representative. Mr T. M. Wilford was satisfied that his constituency, Hiitt, will not be much affected by the Representation Commission’s operations; ■' He' 'thought- ’ there would be alterations in the Suburbs, seat, possibly the creation of another one, pushing the otaki electorate, further north. The Suburbs member, Mr J. P. Luke, also inclined to Mr Wilford’s opinion that a new seat might be created ■ j uat outside Wellington. '’Possibly the whole ■of the city seats will be moved further sonth, and a new seat created to include Ngaio, Kliandallali, Johnisdnyille - and .possibly Porirua," he suggested. . The population in Mr Luke’s constituency ha® bounded upby 7270 since-the previous count. The figures-for Horowhonua County are not available, so that, Mr W. H. Field, member- for Otaki could;,! not speculate upon the probable changes in-his' electorate, seeing that so much of It comprises that comity. , “Gonerally speak-, ing, it looks as if things will be left os they are,"- -was his 1 summing , up of the position. ■ , . „ ‘ 'Anticipadins" -that'-tbo tehdenoyr in ; the South Island will be to increase the size of Gie present conetitucnces. in view of the- larger increase in population'in ..the North Island, Mr John Duncan, member for Wairau, hopes to see that portion of Marlborougih province which; was included, in the Nelson electorate ,' at the last revision of. boundaries, returned to his electorate, with which it is in has opinion more naturally associated.; A petition to that effect? is already, in, circulation, and will be planed-before the Representation Commissioners when they are ready! to proceed with their task; .