ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES

Hokitika Guardian, 8 July 1927, Page 3

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES

A .MEMBERS’ COMPLAINT.

W ELLINGTON. July AY.hnt the Alinisier in charge of tin Electoral Department admits is a

weakness in the statute was brought

to light in the House by Air J.ee (Auckland East) who complained that a petition asking tor a change ill the proposed boundaries of his electorate had been lodged and action taken without the knowledge of any other persons who might l e interested, including tiic member for the district. Asking a question of the Minister, Air Lee explained that a petition had been presented to the Electoral Boundary Commissioners asking for modification ol the Auckland East boundaries so as tu include a hotel which had been left in Parnell, thus enabling a Licensing Committee to he established, which would have jurisdiction over Ellers!ie and .Alexandra Park racecourses, where conditional licenses are usually Inperated. This petition he said, had been received and deliberated upon without the general, public being informed of its contents. He had discovered that the alteration asked lor had actually been made. He was not so much opposed to the Licensing Committee as to the principle of these things being done privately without public knowledge.

"And I want to ask the Prime .Minister," lie concluded, "whether the procedure does not suggest a secret gerrymander 7” The Hon A. I). M’l.'od replied that the Boundary Commission acted -entirely under statute, lie had not had ait opportunity of looking into the matter, hut lie thought the commissioners provided opportunities for a-eounter-ilet it ion. Air Lee: W'e don't even know when the objection is lodged. Air Al'Leod : That is si. 1 am not prepared to .say that there is not a weakness ill the Act as it, stands, as the period. 1 think, for objections is closed. .Mr Forbes: Is the Commission's decision known 7 Mle Alinisier: Thai I cannot say ofi_ hand. Mr bee: It is pretty queer. Mr Parry: Obviously unfair. M.r Forbes: The public would like to know the procedure. The Hon A. D. AFl.eod undertook to ••look into it” and let. the House know immediately a decision was made.. He had been privately asked about lli is point several limes and he recognised there wa> a weakness in the Act. Mr Holland, leader of the Opposition: Are not maps sent out 7 I hate mil seen a map yet. Mr |.ee: An electorate should not be rallied about to provide a licensing committee. 'l’iie Minister remarked that the ( iazette notice of the proposed boundaries stated where maps could no seen. All Holland: I have not had a map ot lII' I oils! it lleiu y. lint I ha ve one ol the North Island. Air Samuel (Ohiuemuri ) : I cant limi mine on the map at all. (Laughter I.