12 MARCH 1904, Page 14

THE OVER-REPRESENTATION OF HOME-RULE.

[TO Tar EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In dealing with the over-representation of Home-rule the choice lies between a simple rearrangement of seats, and waiting for an ideal distribution till the Greek Kalends. If we divide the electorate of the United Kingdom by 670, England would be entitled to 504 seats, Wales to 31, Scotland to 68, and Ireland to 67. Scotland would thus lose 4 seats and Ireland 36. Ireland, with not quite the electorate and population of Scotland, has no claim to a greater representa- tion on any other grounds. There would thus be 40 seats available to relieve the most congested English constituencies.