FRENCH ELECTORAL LAWS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1172, 6 July 1911, Page 5

FRENCH ELECTORAL LAWS.

e ' — REPRESENTATION OF MINORITIES. By Telegraph—Press Associat'on-Copyriehl Paris, July 4. Tho French Chamber of Deputies, in dealing with tho question of electoral reform, has, by a largo majority, voted for tho reintnjduction of tho scrutin de liste, with representation of minorities. WIDER VIEWS IN POLITICS. In commenting on tho electoral reforms proposed in France last year, a "Daily Mail" writer said:—lt is urged by those who criticiso tho present system, that is to say, tho "scrutin d'arrondissement," or ward-voting, that it engenders a local and restrictive spirit. Deputies are elected bccauso thoy appeal to local vanity and to local prejudices. Tho "esprit du clocher" (the parochial spiriS) is uppermost. Oji the contrary, by adopting the "scrutin de liste," or list-voting, it is claimed that a better class of man would be returned to Parliament, since tho appeal would not be to a locality, but to the whole department. Thus, tlie tendency would be for the best-known men to bo returned—men who wero abl6 to speak in a large way of largo interests. There would be a general widening of tho parliamentary appeal, and, at the same time, a greater chanco would bo given to men of patriotic impulsp as opposed to those ready to subserve party and tho parish. This is the principle underlying tho proposed change. A further innovation is known as proportional representation. This.means that minorities would havo tho exact number of deputies to which tho votes cast for their causes entitled thorn. Thus, in a department returning six mombers to tho Chamber, if dno-sixth of tho electorate is monarchist in tone, the sixth deputy will bo a Monarchist. Thus, Parliament will bo the exact imago of the political sentiments of tho country. Whereas, under tho present system, only tho popular theories aro represented, tho unpopular will then havo their voices in tho deliberations of tho country. It is thought that, by these means, a now life and a new interest will bo given lo Parliament.