§ MR. SAMUELSON (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)asked the President of the Local Government Board, Whether, under the directions of "The Local Government Act, 1888," in the constitution of Electoral Divisions of a county, the magistrates of a county were justified in taking into consideration the rateable value of proposed districts; and, if so, under what authority; whether, under section 51, sub-section (1) of the Act he contemplated such inequalities of population as have recommended themselves to the Gloucestershire Magistrates, where the largest Electoral Division has a population of over 13,000, the smallest of under 3,500 inhabitants, and where the average population of the 13 Divisions having the largest population is over 8,963, while the average population of the 13 Divisions having the smallest population is under 4,200; and, what remedy have the populations who complain of unfair treatment in this matter?
§ THE PRESIDENT (Mr. RITCHIE) (Tower Hamlets, St. George's)I have no information as to the Electoral Divisions which have been formed by the Gloucestershire Justices, nor as to the considerations which have influenced them in constituting those Divisions, and I cannot express any opinion with regard to them. Neither have I received any complaint that there has been unfair treatment in the matter, as suggested in the Question. Section 51 of the Local Government Act clearly does not contemplate that population shall be the sole test. Sub-section 1 requires that regard shall be had to a proper representation both of the rural and of the 1749 urban population, and to the distribution and pursuits of such population, and to area, and to the last published Census for the time being, and to evidence of any considerable change of population since such Census. Sub-section 2 further requires that the Electoral Divisions shall, so far as may reasonably be practicable, be framed so that every Division shall be a County District or Ward, or a combination of County Districts or Wards. If, after the constitution of the County Council, they desire to propose alterations in the Electoral Divisions formed by the Justices, it will be competent for them to do so.