CORRESPONDENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 23 November 1922, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION (To the Editor) Sir, —While Mr Allport has improved his position in his last letter it is not done by statin# that the figures of Sir J. Lubbock condemn themselves in a 3 group proposition but; by redistributing among three distinct parties he does make a rather atrortg point on the possible percentage of voters who on those figures would fail to get their direct proportionate share of representation under the 3 group system. I admit that the showing under the minimum 3 is possibly not so good as on even whole Dominion grouping, but it is at least equal to if not better than Second Ballot results as it would elJjW' nate the bargaining and intriguing that is said to go on between first and second ballots and will to a great extent do away with minority rule, although not giving the same proportional representation of all parties as does larger grouping. All localaties now known as Single electorates would have no difficulty in getting representation even under the largest grouping, provided they had candidates of marked ability and good organisations as the principle of one man one vote applies equally. Each area with community of interest would support its own men in preference to outsiders ,ancl if succeeded in polling the quota required would got (here alright. The whole question of electoral reform must be dealt with at an early date and if not by Parliament, by the people outside taking the initiative. We are too much' inclined to leave our political economy in the hands of conjuring politicians. After the election lam wulqig to co-operate with Mr Allport and any others irrespective of their politics who desire to reform our eleetora system. In a recture to the Vale (I i University students in 1909. Lord Bryce , on the subject of Proportional Representation said “some experiments have already been made in this direction. Those tried in England did not win general approval and have been drop0d But the plan is said to work well both in Belgium and in some of the cantons of Switzerland so one may hope that further experiments will be attempted.” I would also draw attention to the figures given us by cable of the results of the recent British election and the cabled press comments on the necessity for a better electoral svstem there. I arn etc. W. J. MOFFATT.