PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 81, 31 December 1918, Page 6

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION

Sir-After many years of propaganda work by Hie Proportional Representation Society mid others interested in electoral reform, a measure was recently passed by (ho Now South Wales Legislative Asscmblv in favour of this reform, and the next; general election will be conducted under the now method. For'years some members wore elected on a minority vote—l have one case in mind, tho Warringah electorate. One Independent candidate polled 707 votes and there were six Liberal candidates who polled MO votes between them. The .Independent candidate was elected, as he was first past the posl. A method that allows of such representation as this is obsolete and inequitable. Years after the second ballot was introduced, but the opportunities for collusion between (he. first, and second ballots were too great, and it was nut expected to last very long. Proportional representation is not a politicians finest ion, as many of them represent mino-rities-hero the same as in Australia. It would onlv lie political suicide for such members to vote for a scientific and equitable method of electing I'arliamontarv representatives. This is a question that nil people with liberal views should support. Wo do not expect the 'lory crowd to entertain for one moment any

measure that would give' all sections of thi! community the representation that they ai'u entitled to. There must bo some political renegades in the Christchurch City Council when they take upon themselves the right to alter tlio method of electing councillors for thencity. Surely there can only be the proportion of each section constituting the. present council? If they have the power to alter it, without taking a referendum ol 'the people on the question, it just goes to show the Tory legislation here. In New South Wales we cannot alter oxisting methods unless one-third of tho eiec'.ors sign a requisition for a pull to ha talwii on it. Then, if carried, tho council brings it in according to certain regulations. I hope that at the next election (general) in this Dominion yon will have sufficient men who are not afraid to support proportional representation for the electing oi members to Hid Dominion Parliament, no that later on you will have a Parliament that truly represents the electors of this country.-! am, etc., •W. K. CUITTKNDKN. I New South Wales, December 30, 1918.