THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 85, 27 August 1912, Page 5

THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Monday. A large deputation waited on Mr. .Massey to-day to urge -the Government to adopt a proportional system of representation.

In reply, Mr. Massey said he was very much pleased to listen to the representations of the deputation. It was no doubt known to them that for some time past he had been a student of the system of proportional representation, and while he was not prepared to say it was a perfect system, it was more nearly perfect than any other system he knew of. It was scarcely necessary for him to refer to the Second Ballot Act. It had been condemned and was -practically as dead as Julius Caesar. He agreed that under a system of proportional representation minorities would be represented. That the Government was sympathetic to the proportional system was evidenced by the fact that it had been applied in connection with the measure now before the Legislative Council. However, what the Government was prepared to do would depend on the fate of that measure. He hoped the Bill would be passed into law, but until that time, and until the fate of the Bill was known, it would be impossible for the Government to say what it would do. lie agreed that the suggestion made by Mr. Atkinson, that the system should be applied ae an enabling Bill and not, as a compulsory measure on local bodies, was a good one, The idea had not previously struck him, but it commended itself to him, and he would have very great pleasure in communicating their representations to his colleagues. Beyond that he could not make a definite .statement, -but he hoped and believed the deputation would be productive of good results.