AGRICULTURE
BASINGSTOKE BRANCH OF THE WINCHESTER FARMERS’ CLUB
At the meeting of this Club, on Wednesday, the 25th ultimo, at the Wheatsheaf Inn, the subject of Electoral Districts, and whether they are consistent with the requirements of the age, was entered on the notice paper to be again discussed, having been adjourned from the March monthly meeting. Mr. Brown, of Farleigh, in the chair.
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ELECTORAL DISTRICTS.
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Mr. CURTIES ... The Isle of Wight, in that county, consisted of about 100,000 acres of land, and there were about 50,000 inhabitants; the whole rateable value, as stated in the last basis for the county rate, was about 186,000l. Three members were returned for the Isle of Wight—two by the borough of Newport, and one by the county. The rateable value of the property in the borough of Newport was stated at about 16,000l., and the number of inhabitants 5,000. This borough returned two members, and good and efficient members they were. Deducting then from the rateable value of the whole island that which belonged to Newport, and also the number of inhabitants, the result is this—that whilst for Newport two members represent 5,000 inhabitants, and 16,000l. rateable value, only one member for the county represents 45,000 people, and 170,000l. rateable value. Even in this small district—where one would have thought equalization would have been less difficult than in other places—there was clear proof of the defectiveness of the present electoral system, and that an alteration was necessary. In the county of Hants, it was found that Petersfield with rateable value not over 30,000l., and a population of 3,000, returned one member; Andover, with only 250 voters, returned two members (the rateable value of that town was not stated, but Andover Union, with 27 parishes, was only valued at 64,000l.); and Winchester returned two members. It was then shown that two small towns and one city returned five members, whilst the division of North Hants had only two representatives. The population of the whole county was stated at 360,000, and the rateable value 1,174,000l. If theses were divided between the 18 members who now represent this county, it would give about 20,000 inhabitants, and 65,000l. rateable value to each member. If the Isle of Wight were divided by three, it would give 17,000 inhabitants, and 62,000l. rateable value to each member. As it was at present, there was no equality of representation either locally or nationally, therefore he fully agreed in the opinion previously expressed, that the present system was defective in every point of view.
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