Electoral "Reform"

NZ Truth, Issue 985, 11 October 1924, Page 8

Electoral "Reform"

NO CHANGE IN "FIRST PAST THE

POST" SYSTEM

Compulsory Registration

The piebald proposal of the Government to amend the electoral system by substituting proportional representation (m the cities)' and preferential A'oting for the present "first past the post" system has been abandoned. Legislature Amendment Bill No. 2 was brought down m Parliament by Governor-General's message on Wednesday and unlike No. 1, it was read a first time.. There was no stonewall when Labor members learned that the "shandy-gaff." proposals of the previous Bill had been dropped. An important feature of the measure is the provision for compulsory registration of electors. • " Electors will require to reside m an electorate for three months (instead of one as at present) before being entitled to vote. Greater facilities are provided for the exercise of absent voters' rights. Labor members congratulated the Government .n changing its mind and offered no serious objection to the proposed amendments. The Leader of the Opposition accused the Prime Minister of not keeping his promise to amend the present system of election. Mr. Wilford took the changed policy of the Government to be a climb dow,n. Mr. Massey: You can term it what The Prime Minister said the bill that had been brought down earlier m the session had been obstructed for weeks, and it became very evident that if it were to become law other legislation would have to be dropped. There was no breach of faith. He had now brought down a bill the House might do what it pleased with. If there was a majority for proportional representation or for preferential voting, the favored proposal could be got into the bill. '