MEMBERS EXPRESS VIEWS ON SOUTH ISLAND ELECTORATES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18188, 22 June 1927, Page 10

MEMBERS EXPRESS VIEWS ON SOUTH ISLAND ELECTORATES.

The position created by the reduction of the number of South Island Parliamentary electorates as a .result of the drift of population to the North Island was referred to by several of the members at the social function arranged last night by the Canterbury Progress League. Mo* D. G. Sullivan, M.P., said that the reduction in the representation had resulted in increasing the area of the rural electorates. The question of maintaining the existing number of electorates in the South Island had been discussed, and he regretted that nothing had been done in that direction. Mr G. W. Forbes, M.P., said that the alteration of the boundaries of electorates every five years was not a good thing. Certain alterations were proposed which would last for one election only, and five years hence more alterations would be made. These changes made it inconvenient for members. Mr H. E. Holland, M.P., leader of the Opposition, said that the matter was becoming serious, and the constant Increase in the size of the rural electorates made it very costly for the members concerned. Proportional representation would, he believed, solve the difficulty, but that was not likely to be brought about this session. Next to that the suggestion of the South Island members that the representation of the South Island should remain ,as it is at present, and the North Island given what extra representation it was entitled to, was the best solution. The Hon D. Buddo, M.P., said that he believed a quota of 20,000 was quite enough, and that in future, instead of increasing the quota, the)’ should increase the number of members.

Mr H. T. Armstrong, M.P., said that the fact that the South Island was losing some of its representation in Parliament emphasised the need for the South presenting a united front in regard to its needs. Mr H. Holland, M.P., said he believed that the Hon A. D. M’Leod, Minister in Charge of the Electoral Office, had given the proposal not to reduce the number of South Island seats some consideration, but as the law was not altered, the Representation Commissioners had to get to wo’rk and define new boundaries.