SUMMARY.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14539, 17 October 1917, Page 1 (Supplement)

SUMMARY.

THE ELECTORAL ■BOUNDARIES. ', (From "The Colonist," Oct. 13fch.) The result of tho latest readjustment of electoral boundaries is to further augment tho representation of tho North Island in tie Lower House of the Legislature' at the expense of tho South Island by three mdmbers. This is an unavoidable consequence of the movement of population, for the number of seats in'the House of Reproscutatives is arbitrarily fixed, and they must be allotted on a'population basis in accordance witli a principle laid down in the Legislature Act. Tho system was indicated rather than 'explained in the report of tho Boundary. Cominisvsionens published last week, and as we have seeu, it is capable of producing some extraordinary resists" at times. Having arrived at the total population of tie Dominion at the date of tho last census, and classified it into urban ■ and. rural categories, the Commissioners add 28 per cent, to the rural population for the purpose'of maintaining its due weight in representation. The result is the nominal population of tho Dominion for electoral purposes. Tho nominal population is divided by .the number of European seats in tie House, 7G, which gives tho electoral quota, or the population as nearly as possible to be contained in each electorate. The last census showond a total rural population' of ed a total urban population of 574,677, 567,404. The addition of 28 per cent to the latter 'figure makes tho total nominal population of the Dominion 0,300,954. This, divided by 76, fixed the quota at 17,118. It \va« further ascertained that the total actual population of the North Island numbered 674,101, equivalent to a nominal population of 766,618; and that the total actual population of the South Island, including Stewart Island, was 467,980, equivalent to a nominal population of 534,336. From these figures it was found that tie North Island was entitled to 45 members, and the South Island to 31, as. against 42, and 34 respectively, the proportion obtaining for the five years preceding the last census. Having arrived at tFiis information^ the Commissioners proceeded to divide the Dominion in accordance therewith. Three new electorates had to be created in the North Island, and three constituencies in the South Island had to be abolish ed, those selected being Motueka., Serwyn, and Otago Central, these being absorbed in neighbouring electorates. Such a, proceeding inevitably results in much heartburning to those affected, and in the .present case the revision of boundaries necessitated by so considerable an absorption havo excited a chorus of aggrieved protest which, if the conditions produced in this part of the island are present in rearrangements in the South, have good grounds. It is difficult to understand why the Motueka electorate should have been selected for extinction, and its partition among the adjoining electorates contravenes in respect of some parts all the considerations which should govern such a rearrangement. This especially applies to the inclusion in Wairau of such places as Foxhill, Belgrove, Motupiko, and Tapawera. Such, an arrangement produces an unwieldy electorate, and is entirely destructive of community of interest. There are similar anomalies in the West Coast arrangements. On every ground the name Motueka should have been retained for the reconstructed electorate, and the reconstruction should be on very different lines. The resolution adopted by the Council of■ the Nelson Chamber of Commerce suggests an arrangement which seems to us to be wholly free from objectionable features, while preserving the desirable compactness and community of interest in all tho doctorates affected. We Hope it will prevail over tho Commissioners' plan when the new boundaries are finally settled. Meanwhile it behoves all parts of the districts affected to exert their utmost effort to "secure a more rational distribution of territory. There is little time to bo lost, for objections to the Commissioners' recommendations must be lodged in Wellington by November 6th;