COUNTING "P.R." VOTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18389, 3 May 1923, Page 8

COUNTING "P.R." VOTING.

CUMBERSOME METHODS. QUICKER SYSTEM PROPOSED. [by telegraph.— CORRESPONDENT.] - CHRISTCHTJRCH. Wednesday. Reference to the present system of voting at local body elections in Christehurch was made at to-day's, meeting' of the executive of the Canterbury Progress League. The matter was raised by Mr. A- C Henderson, who said the system resulted in waste of much time "before the final results were known. He suggested that the English system of counting "votes should be tried before the ballot papers were finally disposed of. - =•. Mr. H. T. Armstrong, M.P., said the matter wag of interest to the whole community. Ho had been given to understand that there were distinct advantages in the English system, which was quicker and less costly than the present system. He was in favour of representations being made to the Government with regard to the matter. ' Mr. W. H. Winsor said that, being so cumbersome, the present system kept candidates in misery awaiting the results. Once a candidate's quota was known, he said, it was possible after the first preferential votes -were published to forecast the final results. This had been done in Christehurch on three occasions. Mr. Henderson's suggestion was put Into the form of a motion, to the effect that a telegram be sent to the Minister for Internal Affairs asking that a trial be given the English system of counting before the papers were destroyed. The motion was carried.