General Election

Press, 29 November 1978, Page 16

General Election

Sir, — Democracy is in a sad state if a party with 161 per cent support wins only one seat, and that a party with the lesser rnber of total votes can win the election. Proportional representation is the democratic answer. The outcome of the election has shown that people want more than two parties. Both National and Labour are not satisfactory any more and have managed to create an enormous oversees deficit, which does not make their economic policy look too good. It. is disappointing to meet such a short-sighted attitude in the editorials about Social Credit; who knows whether their policy will work until it is tried? People might npt understand Social Credit economic policy, but who dies understand National and Labour economic policies anyway? Economists do not necessarily agree about Social Credit. Alas for Values, as they also have much to offer. We definitely need another election system. — Yours, etc., (Mrs) VERONICA BAKER. November 27, 1978. Sir, — From the reports in your paper, it is obvious that Mr Muldoon and Mr Rowling do not credit the average New Zealander with any intelliger ~e — wild votes for Social Credit, from Mr Muldoon, swing to Labour, from Mr Rowling. No, the swing was to Social Credit, and the wild votes were cast by serious citizens concerned for the welfare of their country. Social Credit will continue to grow as more people come to realise that they offer sound economics and democratic government for a prosperous and united New Zealand. — Yours, etc., A. G. O’CAIN. November 27, 1978. Sir. — I must take issue with “The Press” editorial (November 27, in which you dismiss proportional representation and imply that it creates’ unstable government. European countries function quite well under such electoral systems, with lower inflation rates, higher productivity and growth rates, and a higher standard of living than New Zealand has. Mi= nority. parties and governments are led to compromise and- arrive at collective agreements so that legislation passed by Parliament has greater electoral support than is the case in New Zealand. The last six years and once again now (if National or Labour have a majority), governments have passed unpopular legislation and ignored the pleas of the Opposition and from pressure groups simnlv because they have a majority of seats

(not of votes). Since 1972 increasing numbers of people h ’e voted other than National or Labour — in 1972 10 per cent, 1975 13 per cent, and now, in 1978, 19 pe ■ cent. ■ — Yours, etc., T. S. NATZKE. November 27, 1978.