MR MASSEY AND THE SECOND BALLOT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 15124, 13 October 1909, Page 8

MR MASSEY AND THE SECOND BALLOT.

| From Our CoRRKsroNnKN-T.J

WELLINGTON, October 12

The leader of the Opposition is no admirer of the Second .Ballot Act. Tonigiit the Hon G. Fowlds said he desired to show that Mr Massey was absolutely inconsistent in his opposition to the* Act. 'The Minister went back to the election of 1905; and quoted trom a speech made by the leader of the Opposition at Pukekohe, and reported m the " New Zealand Herald " of February 19, 1906. Mr Massey was, Mr Fowlds explained, showing how the Opposition had failed to get its candidates elected, and declared that " No candidate should be declared elected for any district until it was shown he had a majority of the votes of the electors of the district." Mr Massey: There was no second ballot there.

IVJ r Fowlds: What does that mean but the Absolute Majority Bill or tho Second Ballot Act?

Mr Massey: Will you allow me to explain?

Mr Fowlds: With pleasure

Mr Massey rose, and stated that he had been a consistent supporter of the Absolute ' Majority Bill, preferential voting and proportional representation. That was quite different from the Second Ballot Act. Mr Fowlds said that he was glad he let the leader of the Opposition explain. He would give Mr Massey's record in connection with Mr M'Nab's Absolute Majority Bill. In 1896 there was no division on the second reading, and in 1898 Mr Massey was a teller for the " Noes." In 1889 there was no division on the second reading, but at a later stage Mr Massey moved to_ report progress on tho Bill. In 1904, in the second reading, Mr Massey voted " No," though on the short title of the Bill he voted with the " Ayes." Mr Massey : What about the contingent vote? Mr Fowlds: That is just the same as the absolute majority. Mr Massey: Why are you not fair, and say I voted for it?

Th 6 Minister said he was quite fair. Ho had shown that Mr Massey had voted consistently against the Absolute Majority Bill. Mr Massey should know that a system of proportional representation did not require an absolute majority, such as he said in 1906 was required, but a proportion. To hear Mr Massey speak, one would imagine that the Second Ballot Act was a device of the Evil One. Mr Massey : So it was.

.Later on Mr Fisher quoted from speeches delivered by Mr Fowlds in the House on Mr M'Nab's Absolute Majority Bill. In one he declared that tu-e only thing which would make him support Mr M'Nab's Bill was the fear of the second ballot ever becoming law. "I think Mr Fowlds added,""Tie said, " that if members will take the trouble to read the speech of the member for Mataura there will be no fear of the House ever making the mistake of adopting that proposal." " And yet," the speaker added, "we now find Mr Fowlds twitting the leader of the Opposition with inconsistency."