Electoral Reform.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6893, 3 February 1894, Page 4

Electoral Reform.

Thi' first reform which is required ra the electoral laws is the issue of an electoral right to every elector. Then P™vfe*on Bhould be made for voting on there rfglJls I on any day after the nomination xtp to, tne time fixed for the cloUe of the e!eflti<va; The votes might be recorded ttuis&y at postoflices, police stations; orcjerurt-houses. The electoral right woujflr be presented and stamped; fl vofciagpaper given, filled up, and arfljjpe»Hnto the ballot-box, and so the vrofrtto-'would go on for five, six, or wven Says, as tuu might be, and then all the boxes could be collected and the result ascertained. Those away from the district could vote elsewhere, as seamen are now ] able to do. The whole element of unhealthy excitement which now attends polling-day would thus be eliminated from elections, and the opportunity for corrupt practices would be much curtailed. The poll would also afford a much more faithful reflex of the deliberate feelings of the electorate. The expense to both the State and the candidates would also be reduced. After each election each candidate and his agents should be required to make a sworn declaration as to the items and amount of all expenditure incurred in regard to the election. Any expenditure not included in sucbretnrn should be regarded as absolutely illegal, and invalidating the candidature of the person making it or on whose account it waß made. The purposes on which money could be legitimately expended should be clearly specified, and election courts should be empowered to disregard frivolous or merely technical objections so long as the spirit of the law was observed, and the court was satisfied that nothing had been done to improperly and with corrupt intention affect the result of the election. In fact, the chief function of an election court should be to see that the unbiassed wish of the majority of the electors was given full effect to in the choice of representatives. There is ample room lor sweeping and radical reform in the whole electoral system if our legislators would have the courage to depart from beaten tracks and strike out in a new line for themselves. In time we hope that the system of proportional representation will supersede the present rough and ready method of election, under which so many men find their way into Parliament by the voices of less than a majority of those who actually vote. The reforms we have suggested would be useful as paving the way to the ultimate adoption of a more scientific method of providing for the proportional representation of the opinions of the people, giving due power and weight to both majorities and minorities. — Wellington Post.