THE ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES COMMISSIONS.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, Volume 1, Issue 37, 13 December 1901, Page 2

THE ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES COMMISSIONS.

The new Burveyoi>Greneral havingi been a; pointed in Mr, Le Mavehant of Wellington, it may be anticipated that the Commissions for settling the boundaries of the electoral districts will scon b.3 set up and at work,

The Aot provides that as boot as possible af or the census returns shi.ll be made np, the Commissioners shall adjust the districts according to population, The Commissioners hive a margin to goon, and run! districts have an advantage of 2$ per oent. over town districts, There are two Canyniss* ions, cmc for the North Island and the other for the South Island. These sit together as a. joint Commission, for the ptirpoge of fixing the number of dis* tracts lor the North a.nd South Islands respectively, but nfterwards act separately and independently of one another, the duties and functions of ea^h being confined to their respective island. There will, however, btf this time an. additional ► lement to he taken into consideration by the Commissioners. By the Representation Aot of 1900, it is provided jthat when the present General Assembly expires by efftuxion of time, or other determination, the number of European members to be there-aft r elected to the House of Representatives shall be 7Q instead'of TO, nnd for six new districts, one for each additional member. It is expected that of these six new members four will co^ie to the North Island.. The population by the census of the North Island (exclusive of Maoris) is 390,571; the population of the South Island is 381,933, We have, therefore, a preponderance of population nearly entitling us to one member more than the - Sonth Island-