COUNTY SEPARATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1929, 14 May 1888, Page 2

COUNTY SEPARATION.

To the Editor of the Star.

Sir, — In your issue of Tuesday evening, I notice that Mr. Kenah is greatly grieved at what took place at the annual meeting of ratepayers in the Waimate Eoad District, concerning die division of that district into wards. About the middle of his long epistle he says : " Mr. Forsyth does not believe in a minority of voters returning a majority of members. He does not explain how this extraordinary result would bo achieved by tbe division of the district." Now, if you will allow me a little space in your paper, I want briefly to explain this matter, because I believe it to be one very strong reason why the district should not be divided. Suppose, for simplicity, that Waimate is divided into three wards, and that a contested election takes place on some question of great importance to the ratepayers, and suppose, further, that in each ward 100 votes are recorded and the returns stand thus: Ward No. 1, for 45, against, 55 ; No. 2, for 80, against 20 ; No. 3, for 45, against 55; total, for 170, against 130— from these figures Mr. Kenah will see at a glance tbat, under the ward system, it is possible for a large minority of voters to return a very large majority of members. I hold that any system of representation tbat does not make fairly sure tbat tbe majority of voters will be represented by a majority of members, is wrong in principle, and in practice very unfair to the ratepayers. As to Mr. Kenan's remarks about the selfish desires of the Plains people, and my ignorance, and his own stupidity, &c, &c, I make no reply

for tbe simple reason that I think he is partly right. — I am, &c, S. Fobsyth.