PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 61, 1 August 1914, Page 3

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.

DISCUSSION IN PARLIAMENT. SECOND HEADING DEFEATED. By Telegraph.—Press Association, t Wellington, Yesterday, in the House of Kepresentatives last evening, Mr Veitch moved the second reading of tlic- Proportional Kepresentation and Elective Voting Bill which, he explained, was to provide for the election M eighty members for the Dominion upon a proportional vote. The adoption of the liill wouid do away with the country <juotum, but the compensation would be adequate, lie was of opinion tnat separate representation for the ■Maori race was a mistake b'.cause they stood alone in the House. If the Native interests were distributed amongst members they would receive a better Hearing His bill would do away with P>-rty boss polities.'' and give fair representation to ail sections of the 1-0111-niunity. ■Sir Joseph Ward said the Bill was yorthy of consideration. At last election they had a system which, .though I not perfect, iraw them majority represcntation. The Government made a definite promise to give them something bitter. There was a clear promise by the Premier to provide a substitute for the Second Ballot, but it had not been kept, and tlie people wi re misled, They fcad a right to an exp anation for the change 111 the Government programme. He quoted authorities to show that the system of "first past the post" was condemned ir. England, and would be condemned litre lie would support the second reading of the Bill, but lie did not support doing away with the country quotum. Dr. Newman said the Bill was a servile copy of two Bills introduced by : the Government. Proportional repre- | sentation was not required while there I were only two parties. He did not I thiak the country was rjp c for a change at present. Mr. Webb supported the Bill He said it would be as fair for the laborer as for the wcaithy classes l . Mr. Payne said the advantage the system proposed was that every vote would foe effective

Mr Ell said he would support the Bill, while reserving to himself the right to disagree with some of the details. He thought the electorates were too ltirge. Mr .Escott suggested as a means of overcoming the objection to the abolition of the country quota that the country settlers who had difficulty in recording (heir votes should be permitted to do so by post. Mr McCombs supported the measure, believing that proportional representation would me"t the requirements of all political parties.. Mr Bradney opposed any change in the present system

Mr Fisher said the Orernment had introduced proportional representation into the Council and given local bodies the option of electing members on proportional voting. In view of these fiieit it was unfair to accuse the Government of failing to promote reform. Tt was not possible to give the system of proportional' representation without doing awav with the conntrv quota. ITe challenged any member to bring down a working system of proportional voting witlibut doing away with the country quota, and the country members would not vote lor a change unless 'the quotum was retained. Mr Rit-scII said the Government bad promised to bring down electoral reform, but Mr Fisher bad confessed that that was bis p'iin. and the partv would not let him c:irr;v it nut. There was itc obstacle on the part of the Opposition. TTe tntallv dissented from the present lelectorhl -aw of "first past, the post," and would vole for the Hill to show his disapproval. Mr. Veitch replied, and the Hon?-.' divided. The second reading was lo't by 28 to tt. The Tfouse Tn*n at !.W a.m.