ELECTORAL CHANGE.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1923, Page 1

ELECTORAL CHANGE.

A FORECAST. (Lvtlolton Times CorrospondcMit). WF-I.I.IXOTON. July 2:h The elmraetor of (lie Prime Miuisler’.s recent announcement tiliuut the Government's proposed eleelonil reform measure It; 1 -; caused a. good deal of speculation in the lohbies. as it was no doubt intended to do, because Mr Massey was purposely vague, merely hinting that, if would lie a surprise. Members who have followed the situation closely believe they have the clue to the mystery, especially as some of tlie Government party made no secret licit a method has been found of dealing with the increased vote of the Labour Party, which under the first-past-the-post methods in the cities is threatening to give that party more represent at ion than ii would he entitled to oil a fair proportion of the votes cast. The Government's solution is reported to he a mixture ef methods, which will certainly he a surprise, because count rv electors will vole on one method and city electors will have an on!nviv dilloreut system ol electing their representatives. The (tovernment is said to be ioiitemplating a reversion to the former method ol grouping oily constituencies and applying proportional representation to tin so elections, if the existing grouping is lollotvcd ii would mean that Auckland would l y a huge constituency comprising eight of the old electorates which have an aggregate voting strength of PIT,OOO. Five Wellington city and suburban seats represent an electoral strength-of fiO.bOO. The constituencies ill and around Christchurch return seven members, representing 102.770 voters, while Dunedin lias five closely grouped seats containing .'vi.tiOO voters. Tt is suggested that the Government plans to place these twenty-five seats under proportional representation, leaving the remaining fifty-one as single member constituencies, with the important change that prcl'cronlbd voting will be adopted for the elections. This is the reported shape of the measure which the Government will introduce, hut ii has no intention of forcing the issue this session preferring to have a full demission, when the views of every member will become known and amendments may he framed with the object of meeting the wis! es of a maioritv o! the thmse. Labourites regard the plan as simply designed to '‘dish the M bigs whip the Liberals are preserving an attitude of suspended judgment, wondering whether it may be wi-e to accept even an instalment of reform. Their intentions as a party will not be determined until the actual icxt oi the Government's Fill is before Parliament.