VOTING EXPERIMENT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 10, 11 July 1914, Page 6

VOTING EXPERIMENT

TASMANIA'S NEW SCHEME. (FROM OUB OWN CORRBSPONSBNT.) SYDNEY, 3rd July. Although it may not be able to boast of astonishing enterprise in other directions, the, island State of Tasmania must be credited' with bold experiments in Connection with Parliamentary elections. It was the first of the States to try the system of proportional representation, in what is called the Hare-Clark variation of it. Having grown tired of that Tasmania proposes to try a variation of the French "list" system. Candidates are to be eet out on the ballot papers in party lists. The proportion of "seats obtaineH by a party in any electorate will depend on the proportion of votes polled by all the candidates bearing its name in. that electorate. The number of members returned by each electorate will be governed by the relation which all the votes polled in it bear to the total vote cast in the whole State. There are five constituencies, at present, each returning six members, but under the Bill which proposes the introduction of the "list" system some might return more than six members, and some less. One, at least would have to send seven, because to leaive a working margir , the membership of the Legislative Assembly is to be increased from thirty to thirty-one. It has been promptly pointed out in the criticisms that the seemingly fair-minded proposal will really have the effect of increasing the political power; of the cities, where Labour is strong, at the expense of the country districts, where Labour is weak. The number of members would not be definitely fixed on a population basis, 'hut would depend on the number of votes actually cast. If polling day were wet, or fell at an awkward time of the year, there would probably be a comparatively small poll in the country districts, while the towns would remain virtually una.ffected. In any event, Labour would always stand to gain without risk of losing through any special circumstances, A prominent feature of the scheme is the prohibition of cross voting. An elector will havo to cast his three votes for candidates belonging to one party, as shown on the list, unless there is a party with fewer than three candidates standing, when he can vote for one or two, as the case might be. One of the strongest objections to systettis of proportional voting is the complication of machinery which does not allow many electors to understand properly what they are doing. However, those who have serious misgivings about tho proposed innovation are somewhat reassured by the knowledge that in little Tasmania not much harm can be done by the failure of such an experiment. THE NEW ZEALAND NAVY * — RELIEFS FOR THE CRUISERS. " \ (VROU OUR OWN CORRESPONDS.) LONDON, 27th May. Owing to the voyage of the Sirius to Australia being cancelled the Admiralty has had to make other arrangements for the passage out of the relief crews for the Psyche, Pyramus, and Philomel. 'Accordingly a great number of them sail to-day by the Arawa. In the first saloon are Lieut.-Comman-der V. 1 R. N. Porter (from the cruiser Natal), Lieut. -Commander T. S. L. Dorman (from the cruiser Cochrarie), Lieut. A. C. Brown (from the battleship Cornwalhs), Lieut. F. Millar (cruiser Pathfinder), Lieut. W. F v Preedy (t.b.d. Lapwing), Engineer-Lieut. J. C. Boyle (t.b.d. Lizard), Engineer-Lieut. H, F. Russell (cruiser Proserpine), Fleet Paymaster M. Leask (t.b. depot ship Hecla), Fleet Paymaster 'W. F. "Wells, Staff Surgeon R. R. Horiey (torpedo schoolship Vernon), Sub-Lieut. J. C. Shelton (battleship Centurion), Sub-Lieut. H. A. Simpson (cruiser Shannon), ArtificerEngineer P. C. Munro (t.g.b. Hazard), Mr. A. Trevett, gunner (from the St. George), Mr. J. -Hand, gunner (from the t.g.b. Dryad), Mr. ,P. Turner, carpenter (battleship Dominion). In the second class are fourteen warrant officers, and in the steerage 173 ratings. In the. Magistrate's Court yesterday, Claude Fier denied a oharge of furiously and niJgligently riding a motor-bicycle oq the main rood, Karori. The police took the caso against him, and called much ■evidence, which was subsequently rebutted by several witnesses. The latter were subjected to searching cross-exam-ination by Inspootor Hendrey, and the result was a conviction. Fier was fined £3, with costs 13s, and witnesses' expenses totalling £3. Default was fixed afc one month in gaol. Mr. D. G. A. Cooper was on tho Bench. Householders have complained for years ' that it is impossible to prevent wind, dust, and' rain from t coming in under their doors, but this, it is claimed, can now be remedied by "Sadler's Automatic Door Pads." This has been patented all over the world, and a syndicate in Wellington has purchased the patent rights for New Zealand. When fastened to either doors or windows, the promoters claim that it prevents dust, rain, or draughts from penetrating into the room. The pads aro to be put on the market in Wellington next week, and a, representative will call upon householders for orders. The office of the company is No. 18, Grey^streot, where the pads can be seen. , The annual meeting of the Australasian Institute of Marine Engineers will be held on Wedneeday evening,