ELECTORAL REFORM.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 422, 27 May 1908, Page 4

ELECTORAL REFORM.

The fiict that we fire, at the present moment, conducting a ballot iu regard to tho Oroua seat where three gentlemen are desirous of standing iu tho Government interest, aud four others aro spoken of on tho side of the Opposition party, affords ample evidence of tho necessity for tho Government introducing next session as we understand it intends to do, some effectivo measure of electoral reform. The present method by winch through the splitting of votos a man may bo returned who represents only a minority of the electors should obviously bo righted. Among tiie various methods which have been suggested for remedying thif, two suggestions appear practical. The first is the absolute majority, as advocated by tho Hon. Mr McNab which would give to electors a second aud third choice upon tho ono ballot paper, and therefore ensure that the representative) elected had an absolute majority of the whole votes cast. Tiiat to our mind is the best eolutiou, but it is claimed, though we do not admit the claim, that it would be too complicated. Mr McNab has tested the system in schools and vari. ous societies, aud is prepared, at any time to demonstrate its simplicity in an ordinary State school. Kaclng rneu, who are in the habit of using tlio system in their investments on the totalisator find it simple enough and we don't think there would be any real difficulty in its initiation. However it is urged against it that uucil the constituencies are educated to tho change, it would be unwise to make it and it is more likely, therefore that the Government will adopt the alternative of the "second ballot" otherwise the French Republican" scrutin do liste." This again would ensure that the winning candidate secured the majority of electors, and would materially minimise the ovils of the split vote, from which a popular Government is most likely to suffer in the plethora of candidates.