COUNTY REPRESENTATION.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13109, 18 May 1911, Page 2

COUNTY REPRESENTATION.

PROPOSED ALTERATION OP

RIDINGS

In connection with Cr Everett's proposal to re-cast the riding boundaries and representation of tho Wairnea County, which is to be re-considered, the following scheme was drafted by the Council's officers, and has been handed to us by Cr. Everett for publication :—

"The Act requires that the alterations shall be made as nearly as possible in accordance with rateable values and the number of ratepayers. "We are of opinion keeping the foregoing instruction fully in view, that the physical features of tho district and community- of interests together with a reasonable convenience in working must be the ruling factors in determining the new boundaries. We find that for any given area of the county the number of ratepayers is in almost exact proportion to the valuation and that an adjustment of the valuations will a^so adjust the distribution of tho ratepayers at tho same time.

'"Ihe present Wangamoa riding is somewhat small and can bo increased c,n]y by the addition of a part of Stoke. Tho Act, however, forbids the addition of only part of a road district unless such part shall comprise tho whole of a sub-district.

"Stoke is divided into three subdistricts: Stoko (£207,000), Hope (£82,000) and Applcby (£126,000).

"It is cKar that if any part of Stoke is to be added to Wangamoa it must be the Stoke sub-district, but such an addition would make this riding as much too large as it was before too small, and it would leave Stoke bc'ow the average of valuation required to make an even distribution. The riding would be divided into two parts by the city, and there would be no community of interests between the two parts nor would the riding be convenient to work.

"We decide, therefore, that no alteration can with advantage be made in Wangamoa riding.

"AYe deduct from the Stoke riding the sub-district of Appleby, leaving the Stoke and Hope sub-districts with a valuation of £238,993 as the amended Stoke riding.

"The Appleby sub-district of the Stoke riding easily combines with AVaimea West ror.d district to form a new riding. The deficit in value is made up by annexing thereto so much of the Wai-iti outlying as is necessary to In ing it up to the average, and would comprise the properties aboutBright water lying to the north of the main road.

"Wai-iti must also forego Dovedate road district but should have added to it the top ends of the Pretty Bridge and Trass Valleys which are at present in MoHipiko. It will then remain considerably in excess of its proper value. "Motupiko and Wangapeka must amalgamate and oven then exceed the proper value for one riding by only some £40,000, or, with tho deduction of the portion of Motupiko proposed to be added to Wai-iti, by £30,000.

"The remainder of the County is found to be somewhat under the value required for two ridings and it is proposed to deduct a part of the Motu-piko-Wangapeka riding. The Baton is the only part which can be conveniently savored and we decide, to take off the Baton special rating district. "This leaves the Motueka and Moutere. ridings, Dovcdale road district, and the Briton to be divided into the two remaining ridings of the county.

A suitable line of sub-division can be found in many directions :—

"1. By adding to Doveda'e and Upper Moutcre, the Baton and so mucli of the Motuoka outlying as may be required to give the proper average value. "2. By adding to Dovcdnle and the whole of the present Montero riding, the Baton and so much of Motuoka outlying as may be required. "3. By adding to Dovcdale mid Upper Moutere, the central Moutore Briton, and so much of Motueka outlying as may bo necessary. "Wo cannot recommend the second proposal. It would take practically the whole of the country lying between the Motueka river and the present boundaries of the Moutere, leaving M'otueka- with all west of the river, including the Baton. "There is no doubt that the Baton should go with whichever riding takes Dovoda'e road district, and as this must, under the present scheme, go with the Moutero so also should the Baton. "That being so it makes the Moutere riding too long if it includes the Lower Moutere. "By excluding Lower Moutero the division lino between the now Moutere and Motueka, ridings would pass north of Ngatimoti and cross the Motueka somewhere in the neighbourhood of Alexander's Bluff.

"If that is considered to be too low down tho rivor then by proposal No. 3 would make the boundary pass through near Ngatimoti and between the Rocky rivor and tho Pokororo."