THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 30 November 1901, Page 4

THE IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

. Previous to the Union with Ireland in 1801 the number of members of the House of Commons was 558, Too Act of Union added 100 Irish membcra, and in 1832 the Eeform Act raised tho represonration of Ireland to 105. The bution Act of 1885 slighily increased tho representation of England, and reduced that gf Itthnd to 103 members, at whijh

number it stands at present. If the countries of the United Kingdom were proportionately represented according to population (taking the census af 1891, the latest available), Englaad would gam 23 seats, and Wales would lose 3, Scotland 1, and Ireland 19. Ifth<; ?ea*s wore redistributed according to (.ho number of electors on the roll in 1900, England would be entitled to 32 more members, j whilo Wales would lose 1, Scotland 4, i and Ireland 27. The alloiment of representation on this basis would be—England 497, Wale* 29, Scotland 68, and Ireland 76-making a total of 670. As tho present House was elected in September and October of last year, it has still some yeags to run, unless a political crisis occurs, so that a Reform Bi'l may not be brought down at an early v.vJ .; but when it is introduced it is sure 10 be bitterly opposed by the Irish members.