Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1920. “FIRST PAST THE POST.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 2093, 21 February 1920, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1920. “FIRST PAST THE POST.”

SPEAKING ui Wellington recently, the Prime Minister (Right .Hon. IV. I’’. Massey) said all sorts of attempts had been made to explain away the excellent majority secured by the Reform Party —attempts which he felt had not been succcssful. Unfortunately for the explainers, (he fuels were against" them. They said that the'last eleelion had resulted in minority representation. Quite The last Genera.! Election in Britain, when Mr Lloyd George had seevirod shell a sweeping viator v, would no doubt yield a similar result where the figures examined, That result was only natural. Supposing the Reform Party had contested only 45 seats (as a, mat lei 1 of fact if had contested more, but he bad taken the figures for the purpose of example), and had won (he 45 seats. The parly would have had ’a majority in the House, hut, of course, would have been elected by a minority of the people of the country. .People were apt to forget that what was called the “first 'past the post” system had been in operation practically since the foundation of the country, with the exception of the short period in which the second ballot, was used. New Zealand’s system was that which was used in Britain, where attempts to devise a belter one bad been tried without: success. The “first past the post” system had been the one under which Air Seddon had secured his majorities. Anyhow, the “first past the post” was better than the “last past the post,” and ■ he would remind people that the Labour Party in Australia ascribed its de : feat to the preferential system, the one which “our friends over here” were asking the, Government to adopt. In his opinion there was no system invented where there" were more opportunities of wire-pulling and intrigue than in the preferential voting system. He could even say that it could be made impossible for a man who would top (he poll ordinarily to be elected. It was only possible to take the best system offering, and to his mind that which thoy had. now was the best. He was’ not making a comparison between the “first -past the post” and'proportional representation. ■ The latter was suitable for the Upper' House, and would be used when that House became elective, but it would not apply to the House of Representatives. The districts were- too large, and before proportional re-

present at ion could coins into effect (here, would have to bo swept aside Hie country quota. If new systems ■ did come into force there would be many surprises for the people.