THE ALTERNATIVE VOTE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 247, 12 July 1919, Page 8

THE ALTERNATIVE VOTE

.Sir.—The next general election will h» of vital importance (o the Dominion. Tt will, 1 think, lie generally agreed I lint the country will benefit if a fair field is (liven to all candidates, no mailer what their party, find also llinl we should avoid the return of a' memher by a minority vote cwinj,' lo Hie splitting of voles. The old first-past-llie-nost system, again in voriio after the abolition ef (lis second ballot, is clearly unsatisfactory in that if may result in the relnrn of. a candidate by llie vote of (he minority of the electors. Public opinion has not yet been adequately converted to nropoiv tional representation, The National Government, however, would do well, in the i.utorest? of Ihe country and for the, purpose of ossurinp the electors proner representation, to introduce legislation this session iidoptinpr the alternative, vote, a svstem that should have the support of Parliament. This method applies •-•) sinsle-member : constituencies. The elector marks his preference of candidates in their order by vrritinjr 1, 2, 3, or higher number, scrordimj lo the mini her of candidates, against the name 4 of the various candidates. .All the first preferences arc first counted, and if ,a candidate secures an actual niapuritv ho is of course elected. Where no secures all actual niunorily of the votes nnllrd. the second preferences of the candidate nt the bottom of the poll are. distributed anion? Iho rP]ininin<r candidates, and if this fails to give anyone an actual majority, then the second preferences of the next lowest on the poll aro distributed, and in the end one laudidale receives an actual majority, of half tlio votes east, plus one, and is returned as a member. This plen, agreed to by majorities in the f-'peakers' Conference on Electoral ■Reform, I'd to a party contest in (tin British Parliament, and was rejected owini; to party slrnloey, the Conservative Parly voting: almost mmnim-mslv for its rejection, n« in eases in which Liberal, Labour, and Conservative candidates -Hoofl for n sinde seat, its adoption "promised lo nrevent the frequent return of Conspvvat've.s that has happened in snicti cases.'* We have hurl ononrb of tlio party camo here, and it is lime the interests of the country as a whole should be fensidored before tho«e of nnv particular oartv, and a system of vnt'iiif adopted based on fair ami democratic prineinVs tb/it will »ive representation to the will of the people.—l am. ele„ If. V. VON ■TTAAST.