CRASH OF PARLIAMENTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21763, 31 March 1934, Page 15

CRASH OF PARLIAMENTS

Sir, —One half of Mr. Vaile's letter §j consists of tilting against a windmill. He wants to know if I am proud of the l|i results of the present voting system and if I think our Parliament an embodiment of the character and intellect of the people. If my reply is no, why do I want a continuance of this disastrous state of affairs? The answer is, J do not; I 'suggested 3 remedy and one . ;| that would vastly improve the' calibre i| of the House. I know men who are eminently fitted for Parliament and i.i Cabinet and who would have no difficulty in obtaining the necessary |j "quota" under proportional representation, but who refuse "to stand under the present voting system. They Ignow they would be beaten by men whose ' | only qualification is» a "party label.'* . J I do not deny the inequality of men. gj It cannot very well be denied that a •'•§] Parliament of one —Mr. Vailo or myself —would be ideal for. Now Zealand. Nevertheless, while fully conscious of ' | the possession of attributes of wisdom and benevolence far transcending all other New Zealanders, save only Mr. Vaile, I would still give to the common. I herd equal voting power on the' prin- I ciple that they possess just as much! right to govern themselves as Mr. | Vaile and I have to govern ourselves* Mr. Vaile is not even .consistent "in hi 3 own proposals. He would give two votes to heads of families and one rota 1 to the rest. If the aforesaid "heads" are so much better qualified to promote good governance, why vitiate | their voting power by adding a 50 per > cent mixture of poor votes? If you have a pound of superior materials for a cake, would it not be folly to add half a pound of rubbish to it? ' C.H.N.