The Dominion. THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1935. DEMOCRACY IN DON’T-CARE MOOD

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 255, 25 July 1935, Page 8

The Dominion. THURSDAY, JULY 25, 1935. DEMOCRACY IN DON’T-CARE MOOD

At the 3931 general election, 10,859 valid votes were cast in the Lyttelton constituency; there were then 12,625 electors on the rol . At the by-election in September, 1933, when Mrs. McCombs was elected, 10,288 valid votes were polled, there being 13,712 electors on the roll. Yesterday, of 13,662 electors eligible to vote 9692 did so. That is the most significant point of the by-election—the reduced total poll. Mr. McCombs’s win is neither significant nor surprising: he polled some 900 votes fewer than his mother, while the Government vote remained steady. The Government, it seems, has lost no ground in the two years; Labour has lost ground, at any i ate in Lyttelton. But, so far as one isolated constituency can be taken as a guide, the Government remains less popular than it was in 1931— and Labour more so. Wise observers will notice these signs, but pay little heed to them: it is impossible to generalise with any hope of accuracy from one by-election, and that one exceptional in its circumstances by reason of the relationship of the successive Labour candidates. . . .. The dwindling total poll is much less liable to be a misleading sign of the political times. In 1931, 87 per cent, of the electors . on the Lyttelton roll voted;’ in 1933, 75 per cent.; yesterday (including absentee votes yet to be counted) 71 per cent. Some allowance has to be made for the absence in 1933 and yesterday of the national excitment which attends a general election. Polling at by-elections is normally lighter than at general elections, when there is the added stimulus of the licensing poll. But between one by-election and another there is little to choose; if anything, it would have been reasonable to expect greater interest this year, with the general election looming near, than in 1933. Therefore the abstention of a fuithei four per cent, of the electorate, although of itself unimportant, demands notice from people who are concerned for the future of democratic institutions. Roughly speaking, of every ten persons eligible to vote in the Lyttelton constituency, three did not do so. The result would almost certainly have been the.same if everyone had voted; but that is not the point. The return of this candidate or that is of small consequence compared with the continued security and strength of the democratic system of government; and the system must inevitably weaken if those who are privileged to live under it fad in their responsibilities—among which voting is one of the least onerous yet' most vital. It may be necessary shortly to protect democracy against the apathy of its own citizen-units by making voting compulsory. Indeed, compulsion would be a useful complement to a change in the method of voting —from the present antiquated first-past-the-post style to one of the forms of preferential choosing, under which there would be no fear of the return of minority candidates. Mr. McCombs and Mr. Lyons both are deserving of congratulations for their showing yesterday. By following his father and mother into Parliament for the one seat, the new member establishes a succession without approach in New Zealand, and probably without parallel in the British Empire. At the same time he places himself at a personal disadvantage; for he will be expected to measure up to his parents’ standard of ability and zeal in public service, which will not be easy. On the other hand his education and youthful home associations should have equipped him to take an early, and, it may be hoped, an intelligently helpful share in the work of the House. Mr. Lyons did exceedingly well to increase the Government vote in face of a falling away of 600 in the total poll. He again proved himself an able and popular candidate, and his presence in Parliament would add materially to the strength of the Government. It is unfortunate that he should be battering against a Labour stronghold while other seats are held for the Government by less capable men.