THE PUTARURU PRESS. ’Phone 28 – – – P.O. Box 44 Office – – – – Oxford Place THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1928. A CHANGE OF FACE.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 230, 29 March 1928, Page 4

THE PUTARURU PRESS. ’Phone 28 - - - P.O. Box 44 Office - - - - Oxford Place THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1928. A CHANGE OF FACE.

WITH the elections in sight extreme partisans are already on the warpath, and in view of the great uncertainty which at present clouds the whole situation, it is interesting to note various opinions which are being expressed at this early date. Before last election the leading organs which are tied to the Reform Party, insisted at all times that electors should recognise the fact that there could be but two parties—Reform and Labour. They emphasised the fact that a vote given to any supporter of any other party was but a vote given to the Socialists. A few weeks back we analysed a very puerile leader which appeared in the Christchurch Press on these lines, and pointed out the folly of their contentions. It is significant, therefore, that the New Zealand Herald in a leading article in last Tuesday’s issue drops this line of argument completely, and admits that the day of the two party system has gone forever. Most surprising of all, however, is its advocacy of the alternative vote, i yet it is a pleasing sign of the times, and it may be that if this suggestion is taken up by the Party it supports, that even at this late date the late Mr. Massey’s promise to replace the second ballot system with something better will be fulfilled. It is admitted that the alternative vote is not an ideal or absolutely perfect system, but it is without a doubt immeasurably superior to the present system whereby a member may represent a constituency from which the majority of electors would remove | him if they could. The Herald is to be congratulated on its advocacy of the alternative vote, more especially as it inferred so vehemently before last election that even the thought of any alternative was not possible to any elector who had the true interests of his country !at heart. So is history made.