ELECTORAL REFORM QUESTION

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 May 1928, Page 5

ELECTORAL REFORM QUESTION

UNITED PARTY DENIES RESPONSIBILITY FOR VOT»SPLITTING. (By Telegraph—Press Association). CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Mr G. W. Forbes, M.P., acting leader of the United Party, declared in an interview that the charge of votesplitting made against the party could have no force whatever, because the remedy for such a position was entirely in the hands of the Government. If the Government was sincere in wishing to avoid vote-splitting at an election, it was in its power to introduce a measure of electoral reform providing for a preferential system of voting. "When the Reform Government makes that charge against us,” said Mr Forbes, "it does so with the object of narrowing down the choice of the electors to its own candidates as against Labour candidates, and that is a position that will not be tolerated. If there is any complaint about the splitting of votes, the responsibility must be laid entirely at the door of the Government.”