ELECTORAL LAW
SIR JOSEPH WARD SUGGESTS ..<,: ' „, 1; J[R. MASSEY'S REPLY ■;''£? suggestion 'that the; Government should amend the electoral laws before the general! election was made in the ..Souse .of, Representatives by the Leader of the Opposition, Sir Joseph Ward. "I ~•■' .want to ask the Prime Minister if, in the general interests.of the safety of the country,, he will give the House an op--1 portunity 'to; adopt legislation to allow ■ eome system of proportional reprosenta- \ Hon,.or preferential voting, so.a 9to ensure that this system of first-past-the-post shall not exist at the general election," said Sir Joseph. Ward. "This is important for members on both sides of tho.House. There can bo no question of . advantage for. either side, but it is gf tho greatest importance to the people that the Government should bring down legislation to enable, the majority; to decide .the question of representation at the general election." Mr. A. S. Malcolm (Clutha):, Suppoe■injr'there .is no majority? '';•■'•■ Sir Joseph Ward: Majority of what? Mr, Hakolm: Supposing there are three parties, with a majority for.none? ~ Sir Joseph Ward: Isuppose the three : parties would have to be rolled into One, or else they would have to appeal to the country. Tho reason I am mnk- , ing this suggestion is to prevent such a position arising, • / : ' Mr. H. Holland (Grey): Are you suggesting proportional representation? - "' Sir Joseph Ward: My opinion is that 'there Should Im proportional representa- : tron,''but that cannot very well be applied to the country seats. There is the \ question of the country quota of 'JZS per cent., and this practical side has to be considered. 1- n raising this question .because as a public man I recognise that /all sides of the Houso require to realise '-. l.the position, that may arise owing to i faulty electoral law. The Government I alone can assist the country to avoid ! an undesirable position, and, I make the .; suggestion that the serious position warrants an alteration being made in the •""electoral law this, session. .Sir Joseph Ward added that ho believed a majority of the members of tho House wanted to see something done. He hoped the Government would see its way to take tho question seriously.in hand. >
The Prime Minister said, lie could as;ure the Leader of tlio Opposition ar»l he House that the question raised had jeen taken, and was_ bein; 'taken, into he serious consideration of the Govomnent. Tto; question .of whether an imendment ivonld ho made in the elecaral law this session • depended to a rerr great- extent on the length-*of the lession. Ho, could .not giro an answer it the present moment. He understood 1 sir Joseph Ward to ask' for' strict maority rnlo. If the honourable gentleman iought lie would realise that meant tlie ibolition of the country qnota.j Sir Joseph Ward: If the Prime Minis:er brought down a system of preferenjal voting it would not interfere with hfe country quota. Mr. J. M'Combs (Lyttelton)s Preferenial voting is the exact antithesis of projortional representation. Mr. llassey said lie had wad in the lapers that Sir Joseph Waitr had said t- would not ha possible to arrange for iroportional representation 'during tho present session. It would be quite impossible, even if a majority of the House agreed, to maka arrangements, for pro-' rportional .representation in timo to take on eleotion this year. Sir Joseph Ward: I quite agree with that. .
Mr. Massey: That brings us to preferential voting. Ho had. studied electoral methods as earnestly and closely as most men. There were occasions when preferential voting would mean the election of a candidate by a minority. ! " Mr. R. Scrapie -(Wellington South): It Is undemocratic. , ■
; Mr. ITaseey added that personally l? , ,Sid.not like preferential voting. It did V.not provide safeguards. It lent itself ;to the' most objectionable forms of intrigue. It had been pointed (out that blunder, preferential voting a party would „.liaye|,I.TO1 .TO ,nominate two candidates,' in order' thai its second preferences' might . not go to an opponent. He wanted to do the right thing l , and ensure that the country would' have an opportunity to em res; its will at ■ the general election ■withbufc ,any interference by way of intrigue, of whioh New Zealand had had experience in the. past. He was filing to place the matter before Cabinet and give an answer later.
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Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 291, 4 September 1919, Page 6
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715ELECTORAL LAW Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 291, 4 September 1919, Page 6
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