THE s CENSUS.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1917, Page 1

THE s CENSUS.

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES ADJUSTMENT. Wellington, July 20 The Hon G. W. Russell, tabled this afternoon the report of the census taken last year, the total figures showing that the population of the whole Dominion had increased in the five-year period from 1,008,206 to 1,090,128, the North Island having increased from 563,729 to 641.970, and the South Island frqm 444,474 t 0 448.158. Mr Pearce asked the Prime Minister if electoral boundary commissions would now be appointed to define boundaries as prescribed by law. Mr Massey replied that lie had not lpst sight of that necessity, and commissions would be set up accordingly. ' Mr Nosworthy expressed a hope that tire Pripie Minister would prevent tlie commissions from skating abopt all over the country, and urged that something should be done to preserve greater community of interests in the electorates than had been done in the past. Mr hLpssell pqjpted opt that the duties of flip commissions were statutory, and that the method by which they Was defined bv law. The suggestion, therefore, "that" the Prime Minister should take 9 jmnd ill.defining electorates was upt qccpvdipg tq law, pud he was sgre tjre IJonse yvouh} pot approve of such a course. The following variations in the population of the West Coast electorates sigee the previous census are shq>yn : ’ Electqrqte 1911 1916 Nelson 13,287 14,643 Motueka 11,503 ”-779 Bullet 12,6 iS 11,224' Grey 12,658 11,838 Westland i2,ififi 10,946