ELECTORAL LAW

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 23 July 1924, Page 5

ELECTORAL LAW

A COMING BILL. HOUSE BADLY DIVIDED. (Bv Telegraph— Special to the Star.) WELLINGTON, July 23. Notice has been given by the Premier to.introduce a Legislature Amendment Bill for the purpose of improving the present system of Parliamentary representation. He has plainly declared his intention of making the measure non-partv, and it is a wise decision, because some testing of feeling m lobbies suggests that most support will actually come from the opposite side of the House. There is likelv to be a complete medley of voting oh the measure in its present form. The Labour Party is 'solidly against, it, but most of the Liberals seem to take the view that even a small measure of reform in the way of proportional representation in the four grouped citv seats would be worth getting if possible. 1 Jieiefore there is less opposition in that quarter than among the Government .members, whose chief reason for criticism is that wavering voters of Conservative type will be sure to vote Liberal as an alternative to Reform, while wavering trade unionists who will not vote Labour are, they sav, uioie likely to vote Liberal than Reform. Thus the measure carries greater chances for the official Liberals tftan any other party. These glimpses of lobby opinion thus show that the Government’s effort to secure electoral impiovements is not taken seriously in the lobbies. There is, however, another extremely interesting possibility. Once the. Bill reaches committee, as may easily happen if a substantial number of members decide to attempt a real solution of the present difficulties, there is no obstacle to anyone moving amendments involving other methods of electoral reform than the composite, system of the Bill with its preferential voting for country electorates and proportional representation for the cities. The Labour and Liberal parties would probably show a solid vote for proportional representation, and if a few Government supporters hold- similar view's the measure,would take an entirely different shape from that intended by the Premier, some of whose friends fear that the opening up of this subject may produce awkward surprises apart from voting systems. There are provisions in the Bill which probably appeal to the great majority of members. A considerable improvement in the, system of compiling electoral rolls is proposed, based on the compulsory enrolment. The law in connection with absent voters is also to be improved by enabling absent voters to vote at any post office for the district in which they are properly enrolled. It is also proposed that residential -qualifications for. electors shall be amended by providing for three months’ residence in the electoral district instead of one month.