NORTH V. SOUTH

Hokitika Guardian, 27 July 1926, Page 4

NORTH V. SOUTH

REPRESENTATION IN THE HOUSE DUNEDIN, July 23. In opposing a suggestion by the Hon -Mr Witty, in the Legislative Council to-day, that a. census bo taken every ten years instead of every live years, the Hon Mr Garland pointed out that this might interfere with the North Island getting the representation it was entitled to, as resulting from the greater increase in population in the North as compared with the South. Several members deprecated the introduction of the North versus the South controversy. The Hon Mr Isitt, making his first speech in the Council, pointed out that Ma - Garland had previously said he wished to see the fair thing done to the South, which should have equal representation with the North. If the preponderance became excessive, it would have very evil effects for the Dominion. He deprecated the. arousing of a spirit which, he said, was hound to toll against the weal of the whole country.

The Hon Mr Cohen pointed out that in America and Great Britain it was found sufficient to have a census every ten years. He was satisfied that thcie was a keen demand, which would sooner or later he forced upon the Government, ‘for four-lyear Parliaments, which was the rule in nearly every civilised country to-day. If local elections noie brought into line with that, the saving would be enormous. The Leader of the Council, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, admitted that on the score of economy it would be advantageous to collect statistics once in every ten years, but he pointed out Fiat" there , was a growing feeling throughout * the world that censuses should he taken every five years. France! Germany, Japan, South Africa, and other countries had the five-year system arc! iii Great Britain there was a growing leeling in its favouj. Hie questionXof longer Parliaments must l,e. bft to\ members of the House of Representatives, who were more affected than members of the Council. H the North Island population continued to increase, tho position would become absurd. Something would have to he done in regard to South Island electorates. South Islanders, he said, did not grudge the North Island its piosprrity and increasing population. All the South Island wanted was fanrepresentation. Mr Witty’S motion that the next census lie taken in 1936 was defeated by 15 votes to 9. Mr Witty then moved to the effect that a ten-yearcensus should be taken in every tenth year after 1931, and tHis was defeated by 14 to 10Sir Heaton Rhodes said that ou tlie next, occasion the census would he taken on a Sunday. The departure from that practice this year was an experiment.