RE-DISTRIBUTION OF SEATS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 432, 10 September 1880, Page 2

RE-DISTRIBUTION OF SEATS.

To the Editor.

: g lß) —Amongst the alterations caused by the re-distribulion of seats, it was notified by the Hon. J. Hall that " The Chatham Islands, which up to the present have been unrepresented in Parliament, would be included in the Akaroa electorate." In

answer to a question put by our member, the reason given for this change was the community of interest existing between the two places, and the further qualification of our member being a nautical man. The reason given can scarcely be corsidered satisfactory by this constituency. Nor is it clear where our common interests lie. Certainly, the isolation of this district from the rest of the province, caused by want of communication, may be somewhat analagous; but our connection with.an equally neglected place like the Chathams is scarcely likely to improve our position. Going over the list of electors in the different constituencies, Akaroa is not by any means the smallest, and as the principle of re-distribution was to approximate the number of electors in each district, the justice of the case would have been met by including the Chathams in one of the smaller electorates. It would be well for those interested to consider how far we eh all bo advorsely affected by the change. While upon this question I should like to draw attention to the number of settlers entitled to vote whose names are not included on the roll, and to point out how much stronger our member's position

would be were these names auwmi when called upon to advocate our claims. It is to be regretted that more attention is not paid to'this, especially as the increased facilities afforded for registration makes it now an easy .natter.—l am, etc.,

COUNTY.