ELECTORAL REFORM

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8184, 27 July 1912, Page 1

ELECTORAL REFORM

PROPORTIONAL SYSTEM GOVERNMENT TO BE ASKED TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION.

Further plans to bring about a reform in the electoral law were viade by the Proportional Representation Society at a meeting last night. The Hon. T. IV. Hislop presided. Mr P. J. O’Regan suggested that it would be wise to organise a representative deputation of citizens to wait on the Prime Minister before ho finally committed himself to any definite policy in regard to electoral reform. This would be the most practical thing they .could do, because Mr Massey was bound to do something in tho way of altering the electoral law. Over in Tasmania the system was made applicable at first only to the cities of Hobart and Launceston, but it worked so satisfactorily there that it completely disarmed criticism, and was now in use for tho whole island. As it'would be most. unwise to antagonise feeling in tho country districts of New Zealand, where there was strong objection to big constituencies, he thought they should recommend as a start that the system should bo made applicable only to the four .largo cities, which should bo made - into six-member electorates. If onco the system were so far adopted its working would disarm criticism, and in a very short time it would be made applicable to the whole country. It would also be a good thing to suggest that the adoption of tho system should be made optional for municipalities. Ho had discussed the question with a number of members on bef sides of the House, and had ascertained that though a big proportion of them favored the system being adopted for tho centres, they were not prepared to make it applicable to the country districts. He had also ascertained from “ Hansard ” that five members of the present Ministry (the Hons. Massey, Allen, Bell, Fraser, and Herries) had voted in the House in favor of proportional representation, which gave reason for hoping that requests on tlr lines indicated would be acceptable to tho Government. PROPOSALS SUPPORTED.

The proposals outlined were supported by Air Atkinson. He thought it would be far better to Rave the system established for the cities only than not at all. The suggestion for making it applicable to municipal elections was ,an admirable one, and would-prove an excellent object lesson to the 'whole country. Proportional representation was in Air Massey’s programme in relation- to reform of the Legislative Council, and it was difficult to see how a Government ■ committed to the principle thus far could possibly decline to apply it in the directions Air O’Eeganhad suggested. Air Bedford said that there was a danger that-when a political party became .very strong it would declare against proportional representation. He heartily commended Air O’Regan’s proposals, which, he thought, were quite likely to be favorably received. It was suggested by Dr A. Izard that a public meeting should be held in the Town Hall, when a series o' speakers could deal.with various aspects if the question. He was inclined to Hiestion the wisdom of Air O’Regan’s suggestion to apply the system only to the four centres, for country people would think that) if proportional representation was any good at all it ought to apply right through. The society should ask for general application o the system, but if this could not .be secured the other plan might be advanced as an alternative. LINE OF LEAST RESISTANCE.

Mr O’Regan explained that his proposal was to take the line of least resistance and to conciliate tho rooted objections of some people to large electorates for the country districts. After further general discussion i' was decided, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Mr- O’Regan: That the Prime Minister be requested to receive at an early date a deputation consisting of members , of the society and those favorable to the movement to urge that a Bill bintroduced adopting the proportional system of election of members d) Parliament. That the deputation also urge the introduction' of an amendment o the law permitting municipalities and other local bodies to adopt the proportional system for the election of

councillors. On the motion of Dr Izard a subcommittee consisting of Messrs Hislop, O’Regan, Atkinson, and Mack (tho secretary) was appointed to make arrangements for the interview.