P.R. BILL IN COMMONS.
REJECTED BY NON-PARTY VOTE
LABOUR SUSPICIOUS.
Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 4.5 p.m.) LONDON. Feb. 24.
The second reading of a Bill, previously passed three times by the House .. of Lords, to . permit local authorities by a three-fifths majority to adopt proportional representation, was moved in the Hou*e of Commons by Mr. Harold Morris (National Liberal).
The Home Secretary, Mr. W. C. Bridgeman, said that the Ministry was neutral, and the Whips were removed.
Mr. D. 'Graham (Labour) pointed out that the Labour Party was . divided on the subject, some feeling that the support accorded the system by political opponents indicated that it was a device to reduce Labour representation. He admitted that under proportional representation Labour would have gained the recent genera] election.
Professor Sir C. W. C. Oman (Conservative), strongly opposing the Bill, declared'" that proportional representation involved a serious risk of Governments being unable to carry on. No party under proportional representation would have had a majority at the last election. It was a system for the over-representa-tion of minorities.
The Bill was rejected by 169 votes to 157.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18334, 26 February 1923, Page 7
Word Count
187P.R. BILL IN COMMONS. New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18334, 26 February 1923, Page 7
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