The Globe. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1878.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1344, 5 June 1878, Page 2

The Globe. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1878.

Although wo think there is no chance of a system of Minority representation, such as that advocated by Hare, being proposed by the Government in the Reform Bill, we hope that some step will be taken in the House to have the principle recognised. In England whore political questions are generally discussed, not from a theoritical, hut from a practical point of view, it has not been overlooked. In several of the largo constituencies the minority have an opportunity of making their voices heard, and, if they are powerful enough, of returning a member. This result was secured by the creation of what are called throe - cornered constituencies. When the Reform Bill of 1867 was before Parliament, two modes of securing such representation wore proposed. One was by means of the cumulative vote, and the other by three-cornered constituencies. The latter was retained and the other plan rejected. Either would secure the desired end, so far as that is possible within the limits of a single constituency. The principle was only adopted to a limited extent in England, but it has been found to work so well in practice that it is sure to he extended in any new measure of reform. Of course it is not nearly as perfect as the Hare system, but it has the great advantage of being free from the complications which necessarily surround that plan, and it can be adopted'without a departure from the present mode of electing members as representatives of particular districts. The three-cornered system works as follows: Such a district is represented by three members, but the electors are not permitted, as they are in this colony, to give throe votes to three separate candidates; they can only give two. The effect is very evident. For example, were Christchurch created such a district, and an election were about to take place, we should probably find several candidates who were opposed to the present Ministry, and others in favour of them. Under our present law a majority of the electors might return all the three candidates opposed to the Government, and thus leave a considerable minority altogether unrepresented. Under the proposed plan it would he different. As the electors could only vote for two men, the majority would no doubt be able to return two of the candidates, but the minority, by voting for ono man only, could succeed in returning at least one supporter of the Government, The cumulative mode is even more favourable to minorities, but it is slightly more complicated. It is adopted, however, iu the English Education Act, the School Boards under which are elected on the cumulative principle. The plan, in a few words, is, that in constituencies which return more than one member, the electors can either distribute their votes to different candidates, or they can give them all to one man. In a constituency returning three members, the elector can vote for three different candidates, or he can give three votes to ono. The effect of course is that a considerable and united minority can always manage to return a candidate holding their views. But while the plan under discussion would to some extent remedy an admitted evil, it is far from providing a sufficient cure. There would still, even were triangular constituencies created whereover it was possible to do so, he a largo number of electors unrepresented iu the House. These minorities jwould no doubt he scattered about the colony, but iu the aggregate, they would form a powerful body, and were Hare’s plan in force, they would be represented. Another advantage would be that many men of acknowledged ability and integrity, who aro at present excluded from the House, would have a chance of being returned. It is the habit of some to deplore the absence iu New Zealand of well defined parties. Till they are established, wo aro told, good government will be difficult to secure. With the corrections which the Representation of Minorities would provide, the creation of clearly defined parties here might ho au advantage. But its evils are certainly very apparent. We see them iu full vigor in America, whore independent candidates have no chanco whatever of being elected. Even iu England there is a tendency in the same direction. Central confederations have been doing their utmost to get constituencies to accept their nominees, and the electors aro expected to sink their own private views as to the personal fitness of tho candidate, and vote for him simply because bo has boon brought out by tho Radical, Liberal, or Conservative Central Committee, as the case may bo. Should such a plan of conducting elections come into general operation, tho crushing effect would uot bo confined to tho electors; it would uot fail to act most injuriously upon candidates also. Men of independent thought and originality of views would ho entirely excluded from public life. Tho best men for tho Central Committee would bo those but scantily furnished with inconvenient convictions, and whoso only principle was to follow blindly the instructions of tho party leaders. Such, as we understand them, is the aim of some of our Now Zealand politicians at tho present moment. Wo hope, however, that a higher ideal than that will ho set up by our public men. Ouj.’ institutions aro just beginning to take shape, and the leaders of public opinion ought to profit by tho experience of older communities, and endeavour so to mould our Representative body that it shall become tho “ express imago of tho feelings and convictions of the naiiou,”