THE DUNSTAN ELECTORATE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1008, 12 August 1881, Page 2

THE DUNSTAN ELECTORATE.

On Saturday last a public meeting was held in the Town Hall, Alexandra, for the purpose of protesting against the proposed abolition of the Dunstan electoral district.

The Mayor occupied the chair, and commenced the proceedings by reading the advestisement convening the meeting, and made a few remarks pointing out the injury which would he inflicted on the district if the Government proposals were carried out.

Mr Theyers addressed the meeting at some length on the undeveloped resources of the district, and said that, although they had lost a number of the population, which hail been drawn away by the public works carried on down-country, yet he believed that they had readied the turningpoint, and that for the future the popula tion of the district would show a considerable yearly increase ; and thought the pre sent was a very inopportune lira ; for Government to bring forward a measu'e which would practically deprive them of their electoral privileges. Mr Rivers addressed the meeting to the same effect, and moved the following -e----snlution : —“That a memorial be drawn up and wired to the Premier, protesting against the proposed electoral changes, and that Messrs Simmonds, Theyers, Forrest, and the mover he appointed a Committee to draw up the memorial.”

Mr Forrest seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks concluded the proceedings-

The following is a copy of the memorial forwarded to the Premier

To THE Hon. John Hall, Premier— The result of a public meeting at Alexandra (South) earned unanimously that the Mayor dispatch telegraph memorial to the Premier, protesting against the proposed abolition of the Dunstan electoral district. 1- That the Dunstan is one of the oldest goldfields electorates, and is likely to become of more importance every year both for mining and other industries. 2. That it would virtually disfranchise this part of district to be added to another district with which it has no community of interest, there not being even direct post or telegraphic communication between Alexandra and the centre of Wa.kaia, except by way of Dunedin.

3. That the mining interest is not at present unduly represented in the Legislature, and the proposed alteration would strike off one member from the goldfields, which your memorialists believe cannot be justified when the importance of that interest is taken into consideration.

Trusting that you wi'l give tho matter your favora'ile cmsider.ati >n. your memorialists will ever pray. James Simmonds, Mayor.

The following reply was wired back from Wellington To J. Simmonbs, Esq., Mayor or Alrx-

andra (South). The Premier directs mo to acknowledge the receipt of yo ir telegram re el mtoral district, and to assure you that tho representations made will require careful consideration ; but it is, of course, scarcely possible to arrange a scheme for the re-distri-bution of seats without causing inconvenience to some districts. E Fox.