NEW ELECTORAL SCHEIE.

Otaki Mail, 31 August 1923, Page 4

NEW ELECTORAL SCHEIE.

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATaON IN THE CITIES. PREFERENTIAL VOTING ELSEWHERE. WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Government's tentative proposals respecting electoral reform are contained in the Legislature Amendment Bill, which was circulated in the House of Representatives this morning'. The Bill was not circulated with the intention that it should be proceeded with this year, but with the idea that it should be studied by members during the recess preparatory to a measure bearing on the subject being seriously considered by ( Parliament next session. PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. I Part 111. of the Bill deals with protpoi'tional representation and the principal clause of the section runs as follows: ; For the purpose of this part of this Act there shall be four electoral j divisions to be known respectively as \ I lilt. Auckland Electoral Division, tho j ! Wellington Electoral Division, the Christchurch Electoral Division, and the Dunedin Electoral Division. ' The said electoral divisions shall, J ! until altered by the Representation . : Committee, as provided by this part 1 of this Act, be constituted as follows: j (a) The-Auckland Electoral Divi- j sion shall comprise the Elcc- . toral Districts of Auckland West. Auckland Central, Auckland East, Grey Lynn, and I Darnell: . ! (b) The Wellington Electoral Division shall comprise the Electoral Districts of Wellington North, Wellington (Ventral. Wellington East. Wellington South, and Wellington Suburbs: (C) The Christchurch Electoral Division shall comprise the Elec- . (oral Districts of Christchurch North, Christchurch East, Christchurch South, and Avon: /,[) The Dunedin Electoral Division shall comprise the Electoral Districts of Dunedin North. Piinedin West. Dunedin Central, and Dunedin South, jt i S proposed that for each electoral division then, shall be elected as „ UUIV representatives as there are ..loi-toml districts within Ihe division. IV, elections in the city areas arc ! 10 be conducted under the preferential . : system. ! j PREFERENTIAL VOTING. ' preferential voting is to apply to th e electorates other than hose in the city groups, and to by-elections £oi 1 city seats. » OTHER PROPOSALS. I- Jt i S proposed that preference counts shall be announced as they become available. There is provision for the compulses registration of electors and the , penalty for failure to register is oh ■ for a first conviction and £1 tor an} subsequent conviction. Failure to notify a change oi address will not disqualify an elector. New rolls are proposed, with the consequent abolition of the existing rollS - -SB,