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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 68, 7 August 1912, Page 4

proportional iikpresexitatto^. It might, be easier for a rich man to get round a large constituency than for a poor man to do so. 'bul .money is 'becoming less and less Hl'edive in election eontests, and the sympathy for poverty, when associated ivith ability, goes a long way towards counteracting the influence of wealth (says the Lyftelton Times). The fact that the representatives of a large constituency could not, employ the canvassing arts with which the small constituencies have made us familiar seems to us ralher a recommendation than an objection to the system. If proportional representation got rid of canvassing altogether it, would deal a death-blow to parochial polities and parochial politicians, which would excuse a, whole host of minor.defects. If Parliament, is to become really representative of the people, and not merely representative of the best organised .parties, we must adopt some system of voting that will ensure every section of public opinion obtaining its fair share of representation (continues the Times). That the present system gives us nothing of the kind' may be seen from the following analysis of the results of the elections held last December: NORTH ISLAND. . i Seats in proVotes 'Seats portion, polled, obtained, to votes. Liberal, ..... 1(17,108 10 17 Reformers ... 107,17(1 25 17 Independents 51,22!) ■ 7 '8 2'f15,507 42 42 SOUTH ISLAND. Liberals 92,033 20 15 Reformers ... '75,395 l'l 12 Independents 40,378 3 7 213,801) 34 34 THE DOMINION. Liberals 100,141 30 32 Reformers ... 1823") 30 29 Independents 97,(107 10 'ls 470,313 70 70 In the mbove table the-* '•color" of the successful candidates is taken from the lists published by the. 'Reform newspapers on the eve of the election, except in the case of Mr. Atmore, who has been transferred from the "Reformers" to the ••Independents." The fact that the Reformers with 16,570 fewer votes than the Liberals secured six more seats shows that the single constituencies and the second ballot, bo far from ensuring the equitable representation of the majority, actually gave an advantage to the minority. Their utter failure to do what was expected of them was shown even more conclusively in the six Wellington constituencies, which are grouped 'in Mr. Fowlds' Proportional Representa- . tion P>ill to return six members. In these, constitueneiesHhe Liberals polled '12.500 votes, the Reformers 17,748, and the Independents 12,558, and yet the Reformers, though in a minority of 7350, secured four of the six seats.. Jjy the use of the single transferable vote, the system i employed to obtain proportional repre-' sentation, assuming the liberals and the Independents worked together, the parties would have each obtained two seats.