THE ABSOLUTE MAJORITY

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1931, Page 2

THE ABSOLUTE MAJORITY

MR CLINKARD’S BILL. INTRODUCTION NEXT SESSION. WELLINGTON, Jan. 24. Will the general election due at latest,, at the end of this year, resolve the uncertainties of the party position in’ tlie House of Representatives? Air C. H. Clinkard, mein her-for Rotorua, believes, that this.can he done by reviving the Absolute Majority Bill originally introduced by the late ' Hon. Robert. M’NaJ> thirty years ago. He will introduce the original • measure,, with slight modification, during the

coming session. Mr Clinkard. informed the corresponent of the “Times” that lie has always been an advocate of the measure, and had explained its value in every political contest in which' lie has taken part. The Bill, he said, will secure majority representation in every constituency without the necessity for a second ballot, an expedient which was once tried with very unsatisfactory results. HISTORY OF THE BILL. Having looked up the history of Mi* M'Xab’s Bill, which first came before the House thirty years ago, Mr Clinkard states'that it appealed to'a very large section of the legislature, for on its introduction in 1898 the second reading was.lost bv only three votes, while thisy-liage was passed in the following session’on the voices. In 1999, the second reading was carried

by 36 votes to 24, and the division list showed that the late Air -Alassey ) who had previously opposed it, changed liis opinion. “ This Bill,” continued Air Clinkard. “would probably have become law but for the fact that its author withdrew it because the laFe Sir Joseph Ward introduced as a Government measure the Second Ballot Act, which was passed, and ! have, always regretted that fact. The Absolute Alajority Bill off that time was intended mainly to provide for those cases in which two or more candidates favouring the same party contested a seat, but the multiplicity of candidates to-day is due to the number of separate parties, so that the need of some method of securing majority representation ‘ has become even more urgent. NOT COMPLICATED. “ I intend to make a personal appeal

to members to consider the rights of the electors, and give them a chance eel, for the voter can mark the ballot paper, as he. does to-day, by striking out the names of those lie opposes. But in the event of his chosen candidate being defeated on the firs tcount, if lie wishes to have a voice in the final decision he can secure it bv marking his preference as far as he wishes to go. Assuming four candidates in an election, the Returning Officer would; in the count, make up four packs of voting papers for the respective candidates, and the one having fewest votes would be deemed to be defeated in that count. Without disturbing the other packs, the papers of this candidate would he distributed among the others according to the preferences shown on them but any paper indicating no preference would he put aside. This process would be repeated

of avoiding minority representation. Tiie method of voting is not complicatnntil a candidate was discovered to have an absolute majority. In no case could a second preference militate against the chances of the elector’s first fancy. The individual elector need not make himself conversant with the method of counting hut would simply mark the ballot paper and the lieturning Officer would operate the system.’’