REVISING THE ELECTORATES.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 88, 30 April 1937, Page 4

REVISING THE ELECTORATES.

Yesterday was published an announcement by ihe Mini# ter concerned of the personnel of the Represefitation Commissions wbose function it is to readjust the boundaries of parliamentary electorates in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 1927* This b rings us face to face with jnteresting considerations that will bear upon the constitution of our next House of Representatives. As most folk know, the distribution of seats is regulated according to "quotas" of population, the idea being that, as nearly as practicable, the several members should each represent an equal proportion jf the adult population. So that this principle should be main- . tained the Act provides that after each general census changes in the local incidence of population should be considered and corresponding changes in the boundaries of the electorates made. The duty of carrying this through is entrusted to two Commissions, one for the North and the other for the South Island. Each of these Commissions consists of three official members, who act ex officio, and two unofficial members. whose names were disclosed to us yesterday. The exceptionally long interval of time, some ten years, between the taking of the last two censuses has seen a very considerable change in the relative populations of the North and the Soqth Islands, and it is confidently assumed that, when the new adjustment comes to be made. the South will lose at least one seat/possibly two, to the North. The 1927 census, it may be mentioned, resulted in this way to the extent of one seat, so reducing South Island Europeaal representation to 29 and increasing the North Island to 47. The South is thus very naturally apprehensive at the prospect of a still further reduction in the number of seats allotted to it. More especially is this the case when we have in office a Go vernment composed so preponderantly of North Island members. As the law stands at present, the question of proportioning North and South Island representation would seem to depend entirely upon the decision of a joint sitting of the two Commissions* It is then for each Commission to proceed to the distribution of seats in the island over which it holds jurisdiction. From the determinations thus reached there would appear to be no effective recourse by way of a>ppeal, though the Commissions are directed to consider any protests that may be entered. Thus, unless some alteration in the electoral law is made, the South Island will have to put up with a still further diminished voice in parliamentary discussions and decisions. As to any possible fresh legislation on the subject, we have heard very little beyond a South Island suggestion that, by way of some safeguard to its special interestS, some minimum number of seats should be allocated to it. In support of this the claim is made that on the basis of production alone and of the South Island 's annual contribution to the nationai wealth it is entitled to a greater representation than at present. Judging, however, from the apparent intention of the Government that the Commissions should set about their new adjustments at once, it would seem that, for the present at any rate, this suggestion is not being entertained. It would obviously be useless to set about readjustments under the present law if any sucb alteration in it was» in contemplation.