ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3993, 23 September 1930, Page 22

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES.

NO CHANGE BEFORE NEXT ELECTION.

WELLINGTON, September 16. No alteration is to be made in the electoral boundaries before next general election. This statement was made by the Minister in Charge of the Electoral Department (Mr H. Atmore) when the department’s estimates were undei- con-* sideration in the House of Representatives this afternoon. The question was raised by Mr A. Harris (Reform member for Waitemata), who asked the Minister whether it was intended to alter the electoral boundaries. A Bill had been introduced to postpone the taking of the census, and it was understood that no alteration was to be made in the alteration of electoral boundaries.

Mr C. A. Wilkinson (Independent member for Egmont) also asked what was going to be done concerning a revision of electoral boundaries next year, Mr R. A. Wright (Reform member for Wellington Suburbs) asked whether the Electoral Boundaries’ Commissioners had any fixed rule by which they reached a decision to alter the boundary of an electorate.

The Leader of the Labour Party (Mr H. E. Holland) said it would be interesting to know what methods were adopted by the Electoral Boundary Commissioners. Sometimes they did their work in a most peculiar way. It seemed as if geographical and economic considerations were subordinated to political considerations.

“ The necessary legislation to postpone the census will come forward, and there will be no alteration in the boundaries before next general election,” said the Minister.

Mr Samuel (Thames): That is provided the legislation is passed? The Minister: Yes.

The Minister said the general consideration in making an alteration to boundaries was that of population. The second consideration was that of geographical boundaries. The Electoral Boundaries Commissioners were the Commissioner of Crown Lands and tw® other persons, one from each island, chosen by the Government.