COMMISSION'S REPORT.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14539, 17 October 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

COMMISSION'S REPORT.

)UTH ISLAND TO LOSE TRREU

MEMBERS

MOTUEKA ELECTORATE; TO BE

ELIMINATED.

THREE NEW SEATS FOR N«..RTH -

ISLAND.

[United -pREfaB Association. }

WoHinston, (Mi 4. . The report of the North and South Isiand Representation Commissions, sitting as a joint commission, has now 'been received by the Goverr.or-yener.aL The Commission found, from the report of the Government Statistician and from returns ' furnished by the Defence Department -as to the number of persons absent with the Expeditionary, Force, that the total population of the Domi nio.n on the nig lit o t the census "was 1,142,081 (exclusive of Maoris and inhabitants of the Chatham and FLerjtiidec Islands and interned aliens), distributed as follows • —-The population in fifty cities and boroughs of over 200U inhabitants, including those on shipboard, amounted to, 535 ; 334; and tJio ■urban .population, w^thinv the five miles .limit of the chief jjost offices of Auckr Jand, Wellington, Christchurch, arid Dunedin cities, exclusive of the population in cities anu boroughs of over 2000 inhabitants within - that limit, amounted to 36,343, making a- total urban population of 574,677,' leaving a xural population oi 667.404. With tho addition of 28 per cent, to the latter figures, the total nominal population of the Dominion amounted to 1,300,954. This, divided by 78, the total number of members, fixed the quota, at 17,118. It v/a's .further ascertained that the total actual population of the North Island amounted to 674,101, equivalent .to a nominal population of 706,618. Likewise it was ascertained that the total actual jiopulation of the South island, including Stewart, Island, was 467 ; 950, equivalent to a nominal population of 5.34,336.

Consideration of these figures shoved that the number of members zo which the North Island \yas entitled was represented by the figures "4.4.78, and the South island 31.22.

As the fractional part in the first case was greater than that in the second, the number of memters for the North Island was fixed at 45, and that of the South Island at 31. This result increased the number of members for the North Jsland'by three, and reduced that ot the South island by a corresponding number.

In accordance with the provisions of the Legislature Act, notifies tions will shortly be published in the "Gazette" describing the . proposed boundaries of the electoral districts, giving particulars where maps of the proposed districts may be seen, and also particulars as to the lodging of objections to such proposed boundaries. The principal effect of the proposed alteration is as follows: —

MORTR ISLAM). Owing to changes in the incidence of the population of the Dominion during . tiie period which has elapsed since the apportionment of the Dominion into* electorates in 1911, it is found that the North Island "would' gain three mem- j hors and the South island lose a cor-! responding number, which", of course, meant the creation of three new olee- j iorates in the North Island and the elimination of tliree in the South. This could not bo done without considerable; disturbance of existing electorates' .boundaries. A prelunicary n.ap supplied by the Commission shows, however, that they have been able to adapt ihese old boundaries to quite a remarkable extent.

Of the three new electorates in the North Island, one (lloskiJl) has been formed in the suburbs of Auckland, and is an almost entirely "urban" electorate. It is continguous to the Eden, CJrey Lynn, Parnell and Mamifcau electorates, and is bounded on the south by Manukau Harbour. It comprises portions of the existing Eden •aiuTManukau electorates and,very small portions of Grey Lynn and Parnell adjoining Mount Eden,

The vsecond electorate has been rained JRotorua, and is surrounded by the Bay of Plenty,, Haiv-ke's JBny,_. vYainia-i-ino, Waikato. and Tairranga' electorates. It is principally made up fro.ii the Bay of Plenty, 'iaumarur.ui, and Tauranga electorates, and includes a feaiall portion of Waiifato. The- third district has been" named Manawatu, and takes in portions of the Otaki, Rangitikeij and Falmerston eleoivorates.

With regard to-certain alterations of irames of electorates in the -North Island, they have been made so ss to better (indicate the localities of the electorates, and the same consideration lias led to the adoption of the names of the now electorates.

The only effect the alterations havo made in respect of "wet," and "dry" districts, is that it has been found necessary to include, in a dry district two small hotels, one the Wliite Jiorso at Kumeu Junction and the other the Waihou Hotel, which has been taken into the Ohinemuri electorate.

SOUTH ISLAND. Owing to the decrease in population, the existing electorates have been reduced from 34 to 31, by the elimination of Motueka, Selwyn, "and Otago Central^ Portions of these districts havo been absorbed by Grey, Jiuller, Nelson, Wairau, EJleamere, Asliburton, Ohalmers, Oamaru, Wafcafcipu, and:"Wai'takij electorates. ' I

_ A new -district proposed to be called Tuapeka has been formed out oi: ~the existing electorate of Bruce and?part ot Otago Central. ■ : .

As the preponderance of the population in this proposed new electorate is now in a "dry" area, this will have the effect of turning "dry" a large proportion of the "wet" area of Taieri and a fcmall portion of Tuapeka county, apparently necessitating the closing of ■several licensed houses at the next-elec-tion.

The name Tuapeka -has been adopted as suiting a large part of the proposedelectorate, and oh account ct numerous objections to the name being eliminated by the last Representation Commission.

The new Oamaru electorate will apparently eliminate one licensed house at Windsor, and the new Ashburton electorate will do the same thing at Chertsey.

Maps and detailed descriptions will not be available tili Monday.