The Country Quota

Dominion, Volume 39, Issue 29, 29 October 1945, Page 6

The Country Quota

Sir, —"Urban Elector,” in attempting to uphold “the fundamental unsoununess of tue country quota principle,” denounces me for stating that the number of urban seats in Wellington and Auckland cities could very well be reduced by half. "Urban Elector” needs perspective to see things as a whole, and particularly the view of the' whole of New Zealand, “irrespective of party,” as he says. The interests of the town are different from those of the country, and there must be a proper balance between the two. It is possible that the one man one vote principle is not altogether sound. I venture to say that

the majority of persons, who exercise a democratic vote, and particularly those who have just attained their majority, do not truly understand or aie capable of passing a sound judgment on matters

in which they lack skill and training. In this respect many voters just vole blindly according to the dictates of others. To test the soundness of “Urban Elector’s” judgment, I ask him whether he maintains that New Zealand needs 80 M.P.’s at £750 a year to run it, ami whether tho man who is the primary producer, on whose production the wealth of the rest of the community practically depends, should not have an equal say, both individually and collectively, With urbanites. Surely that is equality. Away with party interests. —1 am, etc., T. F. SIMPSON. Lower Hutt, October 26.

Sir, —I would agree, with the abolition of the country quota if either of two conditions were first satisfied: that abolition was made a plank in the Labour Party’s election platform next year, and the Labour Party was again elected to office; or, if a referendum was taken now and the people decided by bare majority to change the rules. It is plain that neither of those two conditions obtain. The Labour Party has taken' it on itself to decide the issue, without reference to the people in any shape or form. Consequently, I oppose the Government’s action. One cannot lightly regard the scrapping of a system that has existed for 60 years, nor can one feel assured that the present steps have not been prompted by the fear that the people are turning away from the Labour Party. For Labour to excuse its actions by saying that they are being taken in pursuance of democratic principles is to adopt blatantly the Hitler technique; for this is a negation of democracy.—l am, etc.. DEMOCRAT. Kelburn, October 25.