HARE SYSTEM.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 110, 11 May 1909, Page 7

HARE SYSTEM.

ITS WORKING IN TASMANIA. PRONOUNCED A FAILURE. "THE NEGATION OF MANHOOD SUFFRAGE." By Tclegrnpli.— Frcfß Association. - Copyright, (Received May 11, 10.25 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Mr. M'Gowen, Leader of the Opposition in the State Parliament, has returned from a visit to Tasmania, where he participated in the election campaign on behalf of the Labour Party. He emphatically condemns tho Hare system of voting as an absolute negation of the principles of manhood suffrage. He declares that it only stands for the representation of minorities and of various sectional ideas. Before the elections ifc was stated by the Sydney Morning Herald that the new system of voting was causing much confusion. -'For the most part," said the Herald, "Tasmania is -what is generally called behind the times in legislative on?ctments. Ifc knows no compulsory arbitration, industrial disputes, wages boards, or factories legislation, and is to-day seriously discussing political problems settled at least a quarter of a century ago in the other States. In electoral machinery, however, it has something so very advanced as to be beyond the understanding not only of the elector, but of the men who framed the measure. It is a series of experiments. in the nrst place, the elections will be contested on the same rolls as are to be used for Federal elections, the State having been divided into five constituencies, each returning six members. Voting will be on the preferential system, and each elector will be compelled to exercise a preference for at least three candidates. Papers on which less than three places of preference have been marked will be treated as informal, but the voter may extend that preference up to six or more. Nobody seems to know what power a voter possesses under the Act. Many are under the impression that they can only effectively vote for one man, and that the preference is merely to provide them with, a second or thml chance. Ot&ers think that they may have several votes especially if their number one and two secure a quoLa and surplus, believing that they have voted once to secure the quota, and again as to the man who is to get the surplus. Some consider that they have a voice in the selection of tLe full six to be elected, but that eaoti vote has a diminishing value. Believing that they have six votes many aic under the impression that it does not matter in what order they place the names, and that they are really voting for a man so long as he is included in their list of six. The Labour Party thinks that the new machinery \» ill J. t « disastrous to itself in that jfc lvbs 7be party of its triumphs by means of ihe split vote. The Anti-Socialist Party fears that Labour will benefit because the latter is the only party able to record a block vote. "The measure owes its origin lo the late Justice Clark who sought for t-.-me means whereby tho log rolling i.ads and bridges memLer could oe eliminated. The electors now fear th? op p. site e^'l — the leturn of men who will feel no local re&ponsioihiy whata\er, ar>d that when any railocukr portion of these huge electorates has need of particular Parliamentary attention it will not be given, since what is ev°ryl>.> ly's husi-.es->; is nobody's business. Again, the elector ites ji'-e too large to permit of any communify of Interests. The Tranklm, for instance, covers about a third of tbe total area or the v.ho'.e island, and ranges froiti the pwtoial areas of the midlands to the fruit growing districts of the Derwent Vru'ey and the Huon on to tho sawrmll'ng country of tho oxlrpj'-i- south. For s-o '"inservative a convnunitj this new system is inded an anr.m.-Jy, and its results will be awiiteJ with, with curious interest. As on* politician leniarked, the best thh'g to do is not to attempt to expUm it, but ir>H the elector to cast his w<e, sr-d bust to tho lnach.-ne to andarsiand-wiiat he intended."