Petition for representation

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34026, 15 December 1975, Page 18

Petition for representation

(.V.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 14

A national petition calling for proportional representation to he introduced into New Zealand’s electoral system will be launched early next year by the leader of the Social Credit Political League (Mr Bruce Beetham).

He said that he hoped it would receive more than the 264,907 signatures that one of New Zealand’s biggest petitions — the Save Manapouri campaign — received.

Mr Beetham said that about 200,000 electors were now disenfranchised by the “first past the post” system.

“I believe there is tremendous potential support in New Zealand for a fundamental reform of this nature. There are many who voted for one of the two main parties and who now believe electoral reform is desirable,” he said. “There would be little difficulty in collecting 250,000 signatures ,and half a million signatures is a distinct possibility.” Mr Beetham said that, while he could not divorce

(himself from his role as ; Social Credit's leader, he was (launching the petition purely Un a personal capacity. But J he would use his party’s faciilities, “or any other machin- ■ ery that will help.”