ANOTHER PLEDGE VIOLATED

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8679, 12 March 1914, Page 4

ANOTHER PLEDGE VIOLATED

The Right Hon. W. F. Massey coolly took off the mask at Blenheim when lie said proportional representation would do very well for the Legislative Council, hut not for the popular chamber. This, we may take it, stand's for the Government policy so far as electoral “reform” is concerned. Before Mr Massey achieved office, however, the country was assured that something better would be substituted for the second ballot. If the people, relying on that promise, have been living in expectation from self-styled “Reform” of any satisfactory system of proportional representation, by which the feeling cf the country can be correctly expressed, they are certain to be disappointed. Mr Massey’s reactionary intentions were plainly manifested when he proceeded last session to repeal the second ballot without providing the substitute he had promised. Wo kriow what followed. There was a most justifiable stonewall, which was denounced ns an attempt to embarrass the Government at the strike period, and eventually the Speaker and the Chairman of Committees, hut especially the latter, improperly employed their authority and the guillotine to stifle discussion and force the hill repealing the second ballot through* the House. _ All this time Mr Massey was repeating his assurance that the substitute for the second ballot would he provided in duo course. Now, however, Mr Massey appears to harbour some misgivings on the matter. “If” ho can see anything better than the present system, ho says, he will ask the House to accept it. But why the “if?” Surely .the country was ‘definitely given to understand that the Government was prepared with something better? Sorely it is entitled now to ask for an electoral system that will guarantee majority rather than minority .representation? Apparently, Mr Massey thinks it is not, his promise to the contrary notwithstanding. Mr Massey may well say that the proportional system is suitable for the Legislative Council, because ho knows that there is very little likelihood of the Council becoming elective while he is in power. Even if his Bill passed to-morrow, however, he knows equally well that the Council will he so completely stuffed with his appointments that it would bo many years before the application of the elective principle would make any ' appreciable difference to its personnel, Mr Massey is not concerned about conferring a satisfactory electoral system on New Zealand. What he is intent 'upon is a system under which the Conservative minority will ho able to defeat the liberal majority and maintain conthol of the administration.