THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18356, 23 March 1923, Page 9

THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM

LORDS AND SECOND VOTE.

GOVERNMENT OPPOSES BILL.

A. and N.Z. LONDON, March 21. In the House of Lords, Earl Beauchamp, moving the second reading of a Bill to introduoe the alternative vote at Parliamentary elections, pointed out that the advent of a third party had completely changed the position. Tha Speaker's Conference in 1916 recommended proportional representation, or where that was not suitable the alternate vote. He pointed out that the Government at the general elections obtained only 5,000,000 out of 13,000, votes. The swing of the pendulum adding 10 per cent, to Labour, and taking the same off the Conservative vote, would give Labour as large a majority as Mr. Bonar Law's. Viscount Long opposed the Bill, and said that only a simple understandable system was needed, which would *;ivu strong governments with stable majorities. Viscount Peel said that he was not converted to the idea. Under the proposed system there would bo prodigious canvassing and log-rolling. The Government could not give time for full discussion of the Bill in the House of Commons, therefore its passage through tho House of Lords would be profitless. Viscount Grey was convinced that stable government could not be secured without introducing a new voting system. It was possible for the present system to put in power an extremist Government not possessing any real majority in the country. If so, tho Government would regret its present negative attitude. The Marquis Curzon pointed out that many Italian governments were very short-lived, their instability being attributable to proportional representation. The Government would give its best attention to electoral reform resolutions, but could not accept the Bill. Earl Beaucliamp withdrew the Bill.