VERY WEAK

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8575, 11 November 1913, Page 6

VERY WEAK

The Tory 'organs of New Zealand find themselves reduced to the use of unadulterated twaddle in the necessity thrust upon them to support the repeal of the Second Ballot Act and a return to the system that encourages minority representation. One “Reform” journal which we will charitably refrain from identifying “supposes” that a perfect system “would ensure that each party should be represented in Parliament by a number of members in proportion to its numerical strength.” And yet the same commentator that professes this ideal gives an absolutely slavish support to a party that represents but one-third of the electors I Then it is said that “ the old English system is not by any means perfect, but it may reasonably be contended that it is just as likely to produce that result as any other ” —the result referred to being the return of members in party strength corresponding to the general opinion of the constituencies. Really, unless writers on this important subject merely desire to throw dust about, they ought certainly to make themselves acquainted with readily ascertainable facte. It is the truth that under “ the old English system ” (what a comforting phrase to a Tory mind!) it is only by accident that the results of a general election can give a true reflex of the public mind. A British Royal Commission on electoral systems reported in 1910 that only once in the last twenty-five years could the actual results of a general election be said to represent approximately the balance of voting power possessed by the two great parties, and that in one election the side that ought to have been in a minority of eighteen seats actually secured a majority of 104. The good old English custom prevails in Canada. At the last election in the Dominion 669,587 votes secured one side 183 seats, while the other party obtained but eight-four seats with 625,096 votes. This is the “system'' that a New Zealand Tory organ coolly supports as the best that is possible 1