The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1878.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5366, 8 June 1878, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY). SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1878.

On a former occasion, when calling attention to the ' necessity l of making i some provision in the new electoral law, proposed to be introduced in the next session of the Assembly, for the representation; of minorities,•' we pointed out' that what is, known as .Hare’s system had been in operation', in Denmark.', As this question has’for hs now a l ..very great interest; ‘‘ in view 'of the possible ’ results of stump oratory, and of the’ jChances !( of a .senseless “.cry,”f which 'would suit the TAprox.ES and Tapers of the 'Government . party, being got up at a general 1 election, we think, it, i our ~ .dutyi . ito keep the . sub-, ject before the eyes of . the people. In another column of our issue , to-day will be found an' abstract of ah ‘article on the subject ot the system of Proportional Representation as it exists in Den-: .mark, which appeared .in a:'magazine called the “Nineteenth Century,” published" at" Copenhagen, for a translation , .of which wp are .indebted to Mr.- Monead. ''We hope, in' a few' day's, to p ; be, able to give,,, a, .continuation ot ‘the paper, in which suggestions are made by the author ( fop improvements ip the details of the system which experience of its working have shown to be necessary. If Mr. Ballancb’s'policy of allowing to a single individual the possibility of exercising seventy-one Votes in the election of. members Of the House of is to triumph over that ‘of the Premier, which would give-every adult male one vote, and only one, ( then the adoption of such a system'as that of proportional representation, as. described_ in the paper now in question, would be impracticable. -But, as it has been- officially intimated that Ministers are graciously pleased.'to admit that minorities have' some claim, although not,much, .to their consideration, another,..mode of attaining .that end may. possibly he. adopted.,, .In any case, however, good' will result - from .the ventilation of a question so'iraportant, and from showing that the -objections, which have been raised .. to Hare's scheme' for the representation of ■ minorities, on the ground of. its impracticability, have been proved, by practical experience' in Denmark, to be without.fpundatipn.r:-,q