The New Representation Bill.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3302, 22 July 1879, Page 2

The New Representation Bill.

I The Representation Bill has been printed. It provides that the House of .Representatives shall continue for,; three years ; that a Board shall be appointed, consisting of the Speaker, the Colonial Secretary, Chairman of Committees, the Comptroller, and Auditor-General, and the Begistrar-General, and this Board •hall, within three months after the end <if the present session, and three months, after every census, divide the colony into the t same number of members to be elected, exclusive of { Maori' members. The rules for the guidance of the Board are as follows:—Electoral district! shall be of two classes; country districts and j town districts. Every Borough having a population of over 6500 souls in all, cither to form one town district, or to be divided into two or more town districts. Where 1 the population of a Borough is loss than 6500 souls, it may be included in a „ country district, or with one or more con* Uigupua Boroughs. The remainder of the population of the colony shall be divided into Country districts. The total number of members, to be elected for the country districts'shall bear to the aggregate popu.lation of such districts a proportion speeding by nearly as possible 25 per cent, the proportion borne by the total number of members to be elected by the

town districts, the aggregate population of the town district. The Board shall divide the aggregate population of the country districts by the total number of members to be elected for such districts, and the result obtained shall be called " the normal number for the country districts." It shall similarly divide the aggregate population of the town districts by the total number of members to be elected for such districts and the result so obtained shall be called the " normal number for town district." The division of the colony into eleeteral districts shall be effected in such manner that each cduqtryj district shalLcontain a population as nearly as possible equal to the riorinarnUmber■"'"for cMlfit^y^Wlrilßls, and that each town district shall contain a population as nearly as possible equal to the normal number for towns^ .The -Board may)'clrjifylout|l*B division of the colony into distriefj\fin such manner ,as it thinks fit, having regard to the provisions of tbis T Ait,, and the division so made shall be 'final. The cerisiis r last 'taken ' before ffth'i' !l®6ird makes such division shall be sufficient eviflenee' 'aiOtb the J6H the colony or a district, but the Board may take such other evidence as -it %hitfl reliable. ;hJ=;?p