ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES ALTERED

Shannon News, 15 November 1921, Page 3

ELECTORAL BOUNDARIES ALTERED

The “News” learns that, as the result of the work of the Representation Commission, important changes have been made in the electoral boundaries on this coast. The chief altera don is the transference of the borough of Levin to the Manawatu electorate, represented in Parliament by Mr E. Newman, and with head quarters at Foxton. The new maps are not yet available, but we understand the boundary between the two electorates is the line of the Mako Mako Road, and follows tl;i main Shannon Road as far as Butts’ corner, all on the eastern side of that road being still in the Otaki electorate Otaki again becomes the centre of the electorate, and is compensated for the loss of the Levin Borough m the south by the inclusion of John sonville and some small centres in the Wairarapa. Mr Newman’s elec torate will be curtailed by the merg ing of the-northern part, excluding Bulls in the Rangilikei electorate. The general feelings in Levin will be surprise at tlie absurdity of the new boundaries and regret at being excluded from Mr Field’s electorate As very frequently happens, the Com mission has shown no regard for local conditions and the community of interest. It is unreasonable to separate the Borough of Levin from Weraroa. its contiguous suburb, and the closely settled Village Settlement and he 1 adjoining country which looks to Le vin a's its natural centre. It is equ~ally ridiculous to add to Otaki more of the Wairarapa townships Ihat are «epara*ed by the dividing range and have no direct access to the main body Tafaruas. People of all sides u of fhe electorate on ibis side of tm general politics will be able to joi" with sincerity in the regret a' the msof Mr Field. His activity in the *n ferests of his constituents in Levin, awell as generally has never flagged and all local questions brought unrle : his notice have been taken up with enthusiasm. NEW SEAT IN THE WAIKATO. .Mr Massov stated in the House that he had been informed unofficially, hut quite correctly, that th Commission had taken away one electorate from the south and given one to the north. The electorate to be wiped out was Bruce, and a new one bad been established in part of the Wad-cat o. The present"Waikato electorate would be called Hamilton, and the new electorate would have l'e ■\Avamutu as its central area. He vaalso informed that no licensed hoim 0 - were interfered with. . (Hear, neat That was always a source of trouble His own electorate \A r a,s cul about as much as any, so far as he could learn.