GROUP ELECTORATES

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2177, 16 June 1914, Page 6

GROUP ELECTORATES

"tmnx? it on the fiop." Speaking at tho New Ocrttwy.. Hail last evening, Or. A. K. Newman, M.P., cleclaM.fi himself strongly in. favour ©f Amalgamating the City sopstitUßnci.es Wider a system of pr&portieival representation. There Was no division of interest between tho di-fferftnt Ci-tf eiec* tttfa.tes, lie contended, situ, it would be an. improvement mi the present? system if ', members Were etec'tea by tho whole City- If lie got a chance, during the' coffllng sessionj he would tetrV that Way. Me Ekct-ora! Bill, Dr. Newman ijdeV ed, would probably be referred to a. ■caucus of tho Eeform party. If tho grouping proposal were carried ho would stilt he. a candidate for WelKftgtoa., in spfe of all fmaoWfs to the contrary. He. ditt not Mmsclf approvo the-'."first past the post" isreteni., fthd considered that in the' four City seats and ■the Suburb's Seat should he grouped. It was better, under p+oportio'Ml te,presen'ttLtiou to have ait uneven number of districts is a group than sit wen number. ' » .

The eotf-ntty raombora on botli sides of the Bouse, Dr, Newman continued, were strongly opposed to having their electorates grot&ped, and not Uitrea;So:tt-< ably. It; took some of them tttd days to ri&> through their diaMttajnow, iand if grouping were- carried the- country districts would bo 100 big altogether. Ihe country members; however, wom C|ij:ite triffiflg to "try it on the dog"»itt this c&ss tte City niemh&ys.