COUNTRY QUOTA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25674, 24 October 1944, Page 4

COUNTRY QUOTA

GOVERNMENT’S INTENTIONS RURAL ELECTORATES WARNED (Special) INVERCARGILL, Oct. 23. “A week ago Labour members of Parliament assembled in caucus for three days. I believe I am correct in saying that one of the most important matters discussed was the Government’s intention to abolish the Country Quota,” said Mr F. W. Doidge, M.P., when addressing a public meeting at Kennington to-night in support of Mr G. R. Herron, the National Party candidate for Awarua.

“At the last general election the Government got the fright of its life,” Mr Doidge said. “Anxious to save its political skin, the Government hopes to find salvation in the abolition of the country quota. The claim is made that our election system is not truly democratic; that the ‘ one man one vote principle does not operate in its fullest sense. Those who advocate the abolition of the country quota want to see the 1,018,834 European electors divided into 76 equal lots. The present system, it is claimed, disfranchises a certain number.”

Maori Representation

But if there was something unjust in requiring more voters to elect an urban candidate than a country candidate, why was there nothing unjust in requiring more voters to elect a European than a Maori? Mr Doidge asked. Actually only 1107 votes were cast in the Southern Maori district at the last election. The total votes cast for the sitting member, Mr E. T. Tirikatene were 741. Yet in the division lobbies Mr Tirikatene’s vote was as good as that of any other member. The principle of one man one vote, if equally applied, would involve cutting down Maori representation in- Parliament from four members to two.

“Applying to Maori representation the arguments used by Government spokesmen against the country quota,” said Mr Doidge, “ the Maoris, with 4 seats against 76, disfranchise 440,116 European electors, or about half the electors of the country, which means that the Maori’s vote is twice as powerful as the European’s. But, strangely enough, those who advocate the abolition of the country quota never refer to the Maori quota. Their arguments all centre around the rural as against the city seats. They want a common quota of 13,495 electors in each electorate, which would mean the disappearance of a certain number of country constituencies, and a proportionate increase in city seats. “ The expression ‘ one man one vote ’ cannot mean perfect equality in voting, because it is not possible to achieve perfect equality. If there are a dozen more electors in one electorate than another, the balance of voting is upset. The expression simply means that every man has the right to vote; and vote once only. That we already have in New Zealand. Present System Defended “In the allocation of electorates, the existing system in New Zealand is fair and reasonable,” Mr Doidge said. “The ideal to be aimed at in the matter of Parliamentary representation is the common good. Primary production is the basis of our whole economic structure. The primary industries must have fair representation in Parliament. They could not get it without the Country quota in operation. The Government knows it has lost the confidence of that great section of the community without whose efforts we could never sustain our standard of living in New Zealand. Hence its determination to abolish the country quota. “In this by-election the farmers of Awarua should insist on an unequivocal declaration, from Ministers who will visit the electorate, as to their intentions on this vital issue,” concluded Mr Doidge. “Everywhere farmers should organise to ensure a demonstration of public opinion, for if they wait until legislation is actually before Parliament it will be too late. By now the people must realise how ruthless are the Government’s methods. A Bill comes down one day; it is on the Statute Book the next."