PREFERENTIAL VOTE ADVOCATED

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 285, 29 August 1935, Page 13

PREFERENTIAL VOTE ADVOCATED

4> Democrat Leader’s View Compulsory and preferential voting at the coming general election was advocated in a statement issued yesterday by Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, leader of the Democrat Party. In stressing the advantages to be gained by adopting the preferential system, he expressed the opinion that it would invalidate the argument that the Democrat Party campaign would result in vote-splitting. "The people of this country do not want the members of the present Government, nor do they want the other Socialist party,” said Mr. Hislop. “They are no longer going to be jockeyed into supporting an effete Government by the outworn cry of vote-splitting. The Democrat Party oilers the only alternative to a Socialist Government, and the people will take it. “The evil of minority rule is admitted. The ideal of democracy is a Parliament truly representative of all the people. It is within the power of the present Government to attain that ideal. It is within the power of the present Government to avoid what it. terms vote-splitting. The remedy has been suggested lately throughout the Press of this country. It has been adopted with complete success throughout Australia. It has been favourably reported upon by the Government by its own electoral officer, Mr. Hodgkins, after a visit to Australia. It is compulsory and preferential voting. “If the Government sincerely desires the full representation of all the people, if it does not want vote-splitting, the remedy is in its hand. It can pass the necessary legislation this session. If it does hot adopt that 1 remedy, then any talk of splitting is sheer hypocrisy. "The fullest possible representation of the people has always been a principle put in the forefront of the programme of the Labour Party. To them, now, as well as the Government, is presented an admirable opportunity of showing their sincerity.”