ELECTORAL REFORM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 175, 26 July 1930, Page 18

ELECTORAL REFORM.

Your correspondent, "Collective Vote," [ is incorrect when he claims that the purpose of "P.R." is to increase the power of the party machine. The purpose, of "P.R." is to destroy the machine, and practice has proved that it does so. In N.S.W., several illustrations may be cited to prove .this. Take Botany, where Mr. Mutch defied the Lang Government and won his quota. At Christchurch only last year Councillor Armstrong obtained his quota in defiance of the caucus. Wherever the party machine has attempted to foist its selection on the people it has failed. Each voter makes his own selection unencumbered and asserts his liberty. Most European countries have adopted the principle for most public representative bodies. No movement has made such progress since the Armistice. Poland, Austria, Germany, Ireland all use P.R. In Malta it finds a place, and for 25 years it has ! been used in Tasmania. France is an exception, for there the Chamber of Deputies, like our owp City Council, refuses to be reformed. In 1919-1922, and again in 1927, P.R. was applied throughout Scotland. The English Universities also elect their House of Commons representatives by the same means. lam not out to condemn the "Chappie" scheme, for nowhere has it been tried. It may be good, but I hate grave doubts. What I do know is that P.R. has all the merits of the ward system without the faults necessary to the ward system. At Mount Albert the ratepayers were so indifferent that at the last municipal election they allowed half the wards to go uncontested. Why should I—a resident of Epsom—be debarred from voting for Councillor Donald or Councillor Murray because they do not live at Epsom 1 If a resident of Epsom becomes a candidate and I think' him a capable man, under P.R. I can giv§ him-my first preference. If he obtains a twentysecond part of the total votes cast — which would be the quota—he would win a . seat. No overwhelming majority would be necessary. In the last city elections several candidates obtained thousands of votes more than was needed. This was an unnecessary waste. If any candidate might stand in defiance of any committee pre-selection would be a farce. If this were not , so the opposition to it in Auckland would not be so determined. , Selection committees do not like losing their power.. Provision is already made on the Statute Book- for P.R. Only a resolution of the council is necessary to apply it. I cannot understand why our City Fathers resist the application of this just system. ' —J. JOLLEY THOMAS.