THE QUESTION OF SEATS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 18, 15 July 1911, Page 5

THE QUESTION OF SEATS.

HOW THE NORTH ISLAND STANDS. Auckland, July 13. Spoken to this afternoon on the question of electoral revision as the result of the completed census figures, the Hon. G. Fowlds, Minister of Education, remarked that live years a,go, when the last census was taken, he predicted that the increase of population in the Auckland province would be equal to the increase of all the rest of the Dominion put together. The completed figures showed that his estimate was realised within a very few thousands. On the subject of the possible revision of electorates and probable increase of representation for the North Islanu, the Minister said that until the Commissioners got the full figures with the -28 per cent, added to the country districts, it was impossible to speak definitely on this point. In his opinion it would be just touch and go whether the North Island gained two seats or one. He did not think they could possibly gain more than two, and he thought it would be a very close go whether we got the second or not. "I think," said Mr. Fowlds, "there is a large percentage of urban population in the North island than in the South Island." Asked about the prospects of Auckland in the aiatter of seats, Mr, Fowlds said it would depend entirely on wnether the North Island got one or two seats. "If two," said the Minister, "then certainly one of them will be in the neighborhood of Auckland city, but if the North gets only one. seat extra then it will probably go to the neighborhood of the Taumai'unui electorate, the population of which has gone ahead at a very great rate during the last five years."