THE ELECTORAL BILL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18497, 6 September 1923, Page 8

THE ELECTORAL BILL.

SUPPORT FROM LIBERALS. ACCEPTED AS 'COMPROMISE. BETTER THAN OLD SYSTEM. [DY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] - WELLINGTON. Wednesday. V/'A complimentary social was ; tendered to Mr., -.:, T. M.: Wilford, >: ;: Leader/v: of the Opposition, prior to his departure for Japan and; the East on .Friday. ', ■; ~, In ;: reply to well-wishers, Mr. Wilford said J "1 have read the speech made by Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., Leader of the Labour Party, at Dannevirke. Ho says there is; ho difference between the' Reform and : Liberal Parties. 'If he says there is no difference between the Reform and -Liberal ■■,■;. Parties,; as .-, : far cs loyalty to 1 the King and the Empire are concerned, he stated a positive fact, but if'he fays we are agreed on social 'legislation, he is wrong." v :•■■■'■■■*<■■:. i " The Liberals ..re . bvfFer between the reactionary extremists: led by Mr. Massey and r extremists led by Mr. Holland. They would both like to destroy our party, for it is : in the way. i By united efforts they tried to destroy us in the last session, but they failed signally. :-V-;.V ■:. -J.. ; . v ' .;';'■'. : ''As to the so-called legislative reform contained.'in the new Electoral Bill, it is necessary to look hack to the session of 1922, just prior to the last general election. .that session the House divided on the question 'of proportional representation, when the Liberal ';..-•:, and Labour Parties voted together, and. were defeated ,i by the Reform ; Party, which then had a larger number of supporters than it has to-day. . r "After losing that division the Houso was divided in favour of preferential voting and the Liberal Party, having lost the division- for proportional representation, voted for preferential voting as being an improvement on tho present iniquitous system of v 'first past the post.' On this division Mr. Holland and members of his party, joined Mr. Massey in defeating the Liberals,, : : :'-.- v >i :• "We feel to-day that a strong horse is needed, called electoral reform, to carry us over fche dreary desert of Parliamentary though .wo consider that the horse preelections as ;at present conducted, and, vided by the present Government in piebald, nevertheless we think that a piebald horse is better than no horse. With certain committee alterations, we think the proposed legislation may be considered an advance on "the present system, though not such an advance as would be provided in the form of proportional representation with the maintenance of . the , country quota. " - ' "■' "In 1912 Sir James Allen, on behalf of the Government, stated it was intended to repeal the second ballot and substitute another method of election therefor. It has taken the Government 11 years; to make an attempt to carry out this promise. As to their sincerity .in this attempt at improvement I have very grave doubts indeed. Time will show whether these doubts are justified or not." t