THE THREE-FIFTHS MAJORITY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 9020, 16 December 1914, Page 2

THE THREE-FIFTHS MAJORITY.

AN OBJECT LESSON OF HOW 'IT WORKS. . • (By CHAS. DIXON.) V The elusive three-fifths majority, as applied to licensing polls, is apparently so difficult to grasp by the average voter, and periodically receives so much attention, that I made an attempt to simplify the problem for. the bonelit of some of my friends. It was then suggested that the "object-lesson" be published for perusal by'such of your readers as might still be perplexed. In the example which is now submitted, I have made an effort to make the situation clear and plain by supposing the possibility oi .successive polls ior the purpose of permitting the Restoration forces to secure a majority. As will be seen, at'each imaginary poll the number of valid votes is increased by those added to the Restoration vote. The -*otes recorded at the Ashburton Local Option Poll on December 10, J914, oxclusne of absent voters' permits and the votes of the Expeditionary Forces, were 3430 for Restoration,- for Non-Restoration, 2569. Total vnhd votes cast ... ... 5999—say 6000. Three-fifths ol 6000 equals ... 3600 Votes for Restoration ... ... 3430 Restoration apparently lost by ... 170 votes (really by 425). To secure the desired ,170, Restoration would require to poll 425 votes, even though the Non-Restorationists remained at home at the imaginary polls. This is the ivorking: —

It is hardly necessary to remark that the same result can be arrived at in a much simpler way, and with less cumbersome details.

1 As above ... ... ...... Add number apparently required. ... <s Three-fifths of 6170 equals ' ... 3702 Hestoration polled ... ... ..<■ 3600 Still short ... .:. ...' 102 Add number apparently required 'and Votes. Restoration. 6000 . 3430 170 170 6170 -3600 102 ., 102 Three-fifths of 6272 equals ... 3763 ,' Hestoration polled ... ■ 3702 6272 3702 Still short ... ... ... 61 Add number apparently required 61 61 Three-fiths of 6333 equals ... 3800/ Restoration polled ..'.' ... ... 3763 6333 .'■■'. 3763 I , Still short ... . ... ... 37 Add number apparently required 37 ''''I.-.-. 37 • ' Three-fifths of 6370 -equals ... 3822 Restoration polled ... ... ... 3800 Still short ... ... ' ... 22 Add number apparently required ..; Three-fifths of 6392 equals ... 3835 Restoration polled ... ... ... 3822 6370 3800 i 22 22 6392 3822 I | Still short ... ... ; ... 13 Add number 1, apparently required 13 13 Three-fifths of 6405 equals ... 3843 Restoration polled ... ' ... ... 3835 6405 3835 Still short ... ... ... 8 Ackl number apparently required A Three-fifths of 6413, equals ... 3.849 Restoration polled ..-. ' ... ... 3443 Still short ... ... - ... 6 Add number apparently required 6413 3843 6 6 ' 6419 3849 Three-fifths of 6419 equals ... 3852 , Restoration polled ... 3849 ; " , Sti^l short ... ... ... 3 Add number apparently required Three-fifths-.of 6422 equals .., 3854 Restoration polled ... ... ... 3852 3 3 6422 3852. j Still short ... • 2 Add number apparently required .. ... 2 2. Three-fifths .of 6424 equals ... 3855 Restoration polled ... 3854 6424 . 3854 Still short ... ...... 1