REPLY TO DR. CHAPPLE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 150, 29 June 1925, Page 10

REPLY TO DR. CHAPPLE

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —Dr. Chappie's idea of electoral reform is to prevent minorities from obtaining Parliamentary representation. The most effective method of accomplishing that object would be to deprive them of the franchise—a proposition which your correspondent would doubtless denounce. It would-be interesting, however, if .he would attempt to show by what right people have the franchise if they are to be denied representation. Dr. .Chappie does not attempt to advance any argument against proportional representation,' but is content- to quote a ridiculous; paragraph from "The Bulletin," that, ''Proportional representation is a fool "of a system." "The Bulletin" has long since obtained a reputation as the official organ of quack politics, and quack English, and its sneer at proportional representation is entitled to as much weight as its studied misrepresentation of Freetrade. Our visitor would "scarcely admit the" competency of that journal as an exponent of the life-work of Cobden or of Peel; and he must find it difficult to. make a case against proportional representation > when he quotes, not an argument, but a' mere sneer, and that from a source.■ whence little else emanates. If he is anxious to rednce minorities to political impotence he might at least favour us with some argument of his own.—l am etc., ' P. J. O'REGAN, 27th July.;: .."