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Hokitika Guardian, 24 March 1925, Page 2

The advent of the Minister of Mines , and Marine to the district will he wel- ( coined specially to-day, because Mr Anderson’s itinerary is to take him into South Westland, where there is room for Government action in a practical way to aid development. The essential of South Westland advancement is transport, and this could be afforded very usefully by both land and sea. Now that it has been determined that the railhead is to stop at Boss for an extended period, it is necessary to improve the highway. Bridges are required besides road im- ] rovement generally. Motors have become the means of regular conveyance. and it is requisite that bridges should span all water courses, while the road generally is in need of widening and general improvement to minimise the posisbility of accident. But there is a limit to the loading which motors may transport economically, and on that account harbor improvement must he considered also. Okarito, surrounded hy a magnificent belt of forest, offers the readiest op]ortuuity for a harbor scheme, and as the Minister is to visit that port, lie will have the opportunity of looking personally into the new position. Industrially also Mr Anderson can he invited to give his attention to sawmilling generally, which would he the chief product of the south, and afford much employment in the maintenance of an export timber trade. Altogether the visit should he useful and instructive. In his late speech at Geraldine, the Minister of Lands was definitely con domnaturv about proportional representation. This is a hopeful attitude at least, for the government has been dallying with the matter of electoral reform ever since Mr Massey went into office, and repealed the Second Ballot system, with the promise ol placing something better in its place. The Hon Mr McLeod, as was remarked hv a contemporary, condemned proportional representation on the ground that, instead of clearing the air of party confusion it would make party confusion worse confounded. Coming from a .Minister, that condemnation is as good as n definite an- , noiineement that the Government will not present a Proportional Representation Bill this session or any oilier and will oppose, with muster of its Parliamentary forces, any such ]reL sented hy a private member. Proportional representation it is clear, has not a hope before the general election. . Those who want amendment of “first past the post’’ will be wise to eonI ceutrate their efforts on the return to the .Second Ballot. The only objection to that system is the allegation that 1 ii encourages a kind of bargaining which places individual pulitiial interests before the general. But that is only another way of saying that human nature must he banished from . all franchise systems. But you can- ■ nut expel human nature. We can cease striving for impossible! pei'loetion, and very well take to the Second Ballot, which, after all, <an take the minority taint out of the results of a triangular election contest.