THE CENSUS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12065, 21 July 1917, Page 8

THE CENSUS.

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES ADJUSTMENT. [ From Our Corhespon-dent. ] WELLINGTON, July 20. The Hon G. W. Russell tabled this afternoon tlxo report of the census taken last year, the total figures showing that tho population of tho whole Dominion had increased in tho fiveyear period from 1,008,206 to 1,090,128, the North Island having increased from 563,729 to 641,970, and tho South Island from •114,474 to 448,158. Mr Pearcc asked the Prime Minister if electoral boundary commissions would now be appointed to define boundaries na prescribed bv law. Mr M-assey replied that he had not lost, sight of tlun- necessity, and commissions would be set up accordingly. Mr Noswortliy expressed a hope that the Prime Minister would prevent tho conuui|ssions from skating about all over tho country, and urged that something should be done to preserve greater community of interests in tho electorates than had been done in the past. Mr Russell pointed out that tho duties of the commissions wore statutory, and that the method by which they operated was defined by law. The suggestion, therefore, that tho Primo Minister should tako a hand in defining electorates was not according to law, and he was sure the House would not approve of such a course.