The Hokitika Guardian WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20th, 1921. ELECTPRAL REFPRM.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1921, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian WEDNESDAY, NOV. 20th, 1921. ELECTPRAL REFPRM.

The time devoted by the House of Bepresentativos this session to the diseussion of the question of electoral reform, lias not been altogether wasted.. Of course Mr Veiteh’s and Mr McComb's Bills providing for proportional representation were foredoomed to rejection from the first. Mr Massey .and his colleagues being well enough satisfied with the present first past the post system, of election, as they have reason to he, have set their faces firmly against any change, and with a compliant majority at their back they are not likely to allow any reform promoted by their political opponents to replace the statute book, dint the principle of proportional representation is so essentially sound, that it cannot fail to make an irresistible appeal to every unbiassed individual in the community. It is many years now since •John Stuart Mill gave tli» world his definition of a true democracy, but it is as vital to-day as it was at the middle of last century. “Tn a really equal democracy,” the great political economist and philosopher wrote, "any and every section would he represented not hi-proportionately but proportionately. A majority of the electors would always have a majority of the representatives, but a minority of the electors would always have a minority of the representatives. Man for man they would be as fully represented as the majority.” For years Mr Massey stood stoutly to this first law of democratic Oovomment. He began to waiver when the possibility of office looked in sight, but so -lately as 11)14 lie declared that proportional representation

was just and desirable. Rut since then halving tnstcd'of the sweets of the first past the post system of elections, lie has thrown bis will on the rubbish heap and proclaimed fur the system that gives him office and power. Still, we repeat the efforts of Mr Veitoh and Mr McCombs to awaken Parliament to a hotter sense of its responsibilities, are not in vain. They may never bring the Reform majority in the present House, which by the way represents fewer than two tilths of the electors to admit that the system which returne,[ them is not the best in the world, but they will by iteration and reiteration bring an increasing number el (doctors to recognise the need for reform.