ELECTORAL REFORM.
(To tne Editors Sir, —Proportional representation id tlie creed of no particular school of thought. It embraces all schools. It is no more individualist than socialist—no more socialist than individualist. Society is something more than a fortuitous concourse of individuals. Society is an assembly of elements acting and reacting on one another in which thought tells on action, action upon action, deed upon deed, and throughout all the elements there runs that vital impulse of life which turns the fortuitous concourse of atoms into a living unity which we call society. We believe that in giving each form of life its appropriate development we have the best means of securing the peaceable solution of the ills of that society. That is the idea that proportional representation offers when it suggests the bringing together of the several political forces of the Dominion or nation to work out the future of its life. As far as the individual elector is concerned it is simplicity itself. All that he has to do when he receives his ballot paper is to mark his preference in numerals opposite the name of the various candidates. Beginning with the figure i opposite the name of the candidate from his point of view he considers best he continues the numbering at his own option. It is wise to continue on for at least the full number of members required, but it need not be compulsory to do so. It is necessary to have large elctorates returning say three, five or seven members, thus .one gets true proportion. Proportional represent ion must not be contused with preference voting such as is in use in the Australian federal elections. It is not necessary under a system of proportional ' representation for a successful candidate j to receive an absolute majority of ■ recorded votes. A fair proportion 'of < votes elects a member. This is known ! as a quota. It is simply a measure of i justice long over due. the operation of ' which will improve the public morals and tend to uplift our public life.—l am etc i J, JOLLEY THOMAS, i
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 300, 19 December 1922, Page 10
Word Count
352
ELECTORAL REFORM.
Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 300, 19 December 1922, Page 10
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