The Hastings Standard. TUESDAY, FEB. 11, 1908. THE ABSOLUTE MAJORITY.

Hastings Standard, Volume XI, Issue 5731, 11 February 1908, Page 2

The Hastings Standard. TUESDAY, FEB. 11, 1908. THE ABSOLUTE MAJORITY.

' At no time since parliamentary electi >ns have been Ceinducted under the present system has there been in New Zealand more urge nt need for reform than .now, an:! by recent Ministerial utterances it is cjuite reasonable to anticipate ihec erects in the law which : returns a man who is not favoured wi.h the votes ot the majority of the electors, will be removed before next November. The free and independent colonial lias made it his proud boast that he abides by the ruling of she majority, but yet he has allowed an interloping candidate to rob the absolute majority of its power to return its representative. The Hon. Mr McNabhas propounded a scheme to remedy this, and the advent of the ultra-Sociaii-tic party on the political horizon, makes it a matter of moment to the present Ministry to bring about the reform before the next general election. According to the " N\w Zealand Times," Mr McNab's , system is tin- Queensland system revised, improved and brought down to dat e, and is thus far the product of the ingenuity of the Minister of Lands. To the elector the system is simplicity itself. He is in the happy position of being abie 10 e;:pre--s hu-> opinion of ail the other candidates as well as the one he wishes to see at the top of the poll, without in any way weakening his vote for the man of his choice. This is achieved by theel.ctor placing in the. little squares opposite the names of tile candidates on t he baliof paper — t opposite the name of the candidate lie wishes to see elected, 2 opposite (lie one he wou'd idee to se t him in the even' of his hist ce.oiee not receiving a majority, and •*> on fh,< chief advantages of Mr MeAans system are 1. 1 hat it is cvoiu:ionary. b; ing.a simple modification of the present system. 2. That ma'orties must rule. 3. That all candidates who th nk they have a message, or that they represent the views of the majority, may contest a seat without fear of vitiating the democratic principle of majority rule, and without looking to party, or faction, or clique, for nomination. 4. "] he ciiminatio.ll of self-constituted, log-rolling selectors of Parlianientary candidates.