THE CUMULATIVE VOTE.

Evening Star, Issue 7197, 27 April 1887, Page 2

THE CUMULATIVE VOTE.

It is near time that the people of New Zealand set themselves to work the downfall of the cumulative voting system in the election of school committees, The abases of the system are beeoming simply monstrous, and its only advantage is to enable unscrupulous men to annoy their fellow householders by getting themselves elected. Under the present arrangement it is possible for any sweep—in fact, the lowest scavenger in the parish—to place himself on the School Committee by the judicious expenditure of. a few shillings in long beers. On Monday evening last at the High School some half-dozen Chinamen were trotted out to " plump " in the interests of some particular candidate; bnt happily their assistance was not required, so they returned home quite disappointed. The cumulative system of voting was introduced into the Education Act for the benefit of the Catholics; and, as they have positively refused to have anything to do with the Education Act where they are sufficiently strong to have a Bchool of their own, it is needless to quote them as an excuse for the existence of this much-abused system. Even in places where the Catholics have no school, they generally refrain from taking part in the election of the committee. So long as the present system lasts, so long will undesirable men secure seats; and it is a fact that men elected by the votes of Chinamen and by tap-room favors keep desirable men from seeking election; and thus the committees are not so efficient as they might fee. We trust that semeone will take a lead in the matter, as the time for reform has come and should not be Btaved off.-— * Tuapeka Times.'