A WESTPORT PROTEST

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 14, 11 October 1917, Page 5

A WESTPORT PROTEST

AGAINST ALTERATION OF ELECTORATE. By Telegraph-Press Association. Westportj October 10. 'At a public meeting, in.the Tcjwn Hftll to-night it was resolved to enter a strong protest against the name of Orev.being applied to the electorate,'which included 'Westp'ort, but not Greymoiith. Westport hitherto has been the chief town of the Bnller electorate, but under the new boundaries Duller begins north of Westpott, and extends to Motueka. and Westport is transferred to Grey. The meeting? .contended-that Buller, the namo of the '. river, the outlet of which forms the port of Westport, should be retained for tho .electorate that has Weetport for its chief town. Mr. Bowater. president of the Chamber of Commerce, objected to- altering the boundaries at the present time. For .the earns "reason, that the life of Parliament had been extended the old Konndaries should be retained. During the ab- , normal conditions due to the war, there •were fluctuations, of population. There ■ was a'slackening of public works in the south, and more continuous " public •works expenditure in.'.the north, particularly in the far north. Then the greater part of'the loan money was raised for dofence purposes, and was being spent in the North Island, temporarily attracting population there. When, normal conditions obtained people woiuld return to the south, and if the proposals of the Boundaries Commission, were adopted, with the loss of seati for the South Island, many people would be diefran- j chised. .■.--. ■ . ,