H.—2B

2

The joint Commission having fulfilled the functions devolving upon it in terms of the above Act, resolved itself into the separate Commissions, which respectively proceeded to apportion and define the electoral districts for each Island. Given under our hands and seals, this nineteenth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and seven. Thos. Humphries. (1.5.) Thos. S. Weston. (1.5.) Chairman, Joint Commission. Chas. S. Reeves. (1.5.) H. S. Wardell. (1.5.) D. Bakron. (1.5.) W. H. Quick. (1.5.) Eric C. Gold Smith. (1.5.) Frahk Simpson, (1.5.) G.J.Roberts. (1.5.) James Mackenzie. (1.5.) The South Island members have signed this report subject to their "protest" (attached) recorded in the minutes of the Joint Commission. Thos-, S. Weston, Chairman, South Island Representation Commission. 19th January, 1907. [Extracts from the Minutes of the Proceedings of the Joint Representation Commission, dated the 15th November, 1900.] PROTEST. ' The members of the South Island Representation Commission enter their protest against the decision of the Joint Commission, carried by the casting-vote of the Chairman, on the following grounds: That by giving the North Island a representation of forty-one members there is a deficiency in nominal population of 5,500, and by giving the South Island a representation of only thirty-five members there wili be 5,500 of the nominal population unrepresented; that we do not consider the division fair or equitable, and believe it to be neither in accordance with the spirit or intention of <; The Electoral Act, 1905." REJOINDER BY NORTH ISLAND COMMISSION. That by giving the South Island a representation of thirty-six members there would be an increase in nominal population of that Island of 7,896, which would mean the allotment of forty members to the North Island, thereby leaving 7,896 of the nominal population of that Island unrepresented. Note.—By the final adjustment of the figures of the population, the 5,500 and 7,896 mentioned in the above should be 5,373 and. 8,027 respectively.—Thos. Humphries, Chairman, North Island Representation Commission.