ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1927, Page 1

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES

A NEW COMMISSION. WELLINGTON, July 15. An important change in the personnel „f the Electoral Boundaries Commission is proposed in an amendment of the Legislature Act. introduced by Governor-General’.* message in the House of Representatives to-day. The separate commissions for the North 5111(1 South Islands a:e abolished. and in their place "ill he a permanent Commission, comprising the Surveyor-General. the Government Statistician and the Chief Electoral Officer. Their duties will he a I tel each ;( .| IS II > to divide the Dominion into electoral areas oil the same method as now folio" ed. Urban areas are defined as a city or borough, with a population of over 2920. and in the case of the four chief crimes, such additional a ran as the Governor-in-Council determines. Outside these areas the country is regarded as rural, and when the commission works out the necessary quotient to enable 76 European members to be apportioned to the constituencies in proportion to population, it shall add t > the actual rural population an additional 28 per cent. Consideration lias to be given to the present boundaries of electoral districts. community of interest, facili-

ties ol communication, and topographical features. The commission shall, wherever practicable, lix electoral boundaries so that no licensed premises shall he placed in a no-license area. To facilitate readjustment in relation to population, the commission’s margin over the quota per electorate is increased to 1250, where boundaries cannot otherwise he equitably fixed. POSTAL VOTING. Provision is to he made hy regulation for an elector to exercise a postal vote if on polling day he will be absent from New Zealand, or " ill not l>e within five miles of the nearest polling place. The privilege "ill be available to ill or infirm persons, and lighthouse stall's. A vote in a licensing poll may be exercised under the same conditions. There are a number of other sections designed for the improved working of the Act. and incorporating points which have already been the subject of amending Acts. The penalty for breaches of the Act is Co. "hire more moderate penal provision is made where persons qualified as electors fail to register. Unless they prove that neglect was not wilful, they are liable to a fine of 5s on a first conviction and £1 on a subsequent conviction. Keen interest was shown by South Island members in the possibility of the Bill containing some solution of their problem of disappearing electorates, and they questioned the Hon F. .T. Ttnlleston. who was temporarily in charge of the measure regarding this point. He replied that it was not dealt with. ‘Tt will open up the "hole question” hopefully remarked Air Holland (Leader of the Opposition). Air Tlolleston was again questioned, and replied that the position would remain the same. Afr Lysnar: Why don’t you grow more people there? (Laughter).