THE COLONIST

Colonist, Volume XX, Issue 2398, 8 June 1878, Page 3

THE COLONIST

PUBIISKED TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS, AND SATURDAYS.

NELSON, SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1878,

REPRESENTATION OF MINORITIES.

At many of the meetings held by Sir George Grey in his recent tour, he announced that, among the leading measures he intends to bring forward, is one for the re-distribution of seats in the Houro of Representatives in strict proportion to population, or in other words, to establish equal electoral districts, in accordance with the theory long advocated by an extreme party in England. Whatever may be said for or against this proposition, it is at least clear that the effect would be to concentrate political power in the great towns, and that districts like our own, where the inhabitants are comparatively few, would ba robbed of a large share of the influence they now enjoy. Perhaps there need not be much fear that the scheme will be accepted without considerable modification, as few members Bent by the smaller constituencies will be willing to play so false by those who trusted them, as to sanction what would amount to their partial disfranchisement. There can, however, be no doubt that the tendency is to give' weight to little besides mere numbers, and that some sacrifices will be exacted from the placeß, where increase has been smaller than the average of the Colony, even where tfccan be conclusively proved, as in this vrovince, that they have lagged behind, not from any want of natural advantages or of energy in the settlers, but solely because they~ have been denied by successive Governments their due Bhare of the expenditure on public works. "Without discussing at present the impolicy, no lesß than the injustice, of binding together districts, whose inhabitants have little in comnion, especially as to the supply of those local requirements for which all are now dependent on the representations of their members to the General Government, it is clear shat these larger constituencies will be more open to the influence of some temporary excitement, which may generally deprive the minorities of any voice in Parliament, leaving probably a number of the ablest men without seats, and preventing that wholesome criticism that every wise statesman knows it to be necessary that his measures should be subject to. Undoubtedly the very essence of popular government is, that the will of the majority shall prevail, but it is equally clear that no considerable body of the people should be entirely excluded from sending advocates of their views to the Legislature. The records of elections prove that in many of the fiercest contests opinion is nearly balanced, and instances are not wanting in England, where majorities in numerous places hare ■ufficed to give a Ministry an overwhelming strength in the House-of Commons, that virtually extinguished for a time the sobering influence of a powerful Opposition. Various attempts have been made to secure ■ome, though necessarily and properly a less proportion of representation for minorities. In the last English Eeform Act, several places were authorised to return three members, and in these three-cornered constituencies it was ultimately decided, that no elector should be allowed to vote for more than two candidates, so that by judiciously arranging their plans, the party conscious of being the smaller, can send one man in whom they have confidence. In the election of School Boards, as it is here in the election of Local Committees, the system of cumulative voting has been adopted with satisfaction to all, cave those wishing to domineer over their less numerous f'elloweubjects. . These devices are obviously not applicable to the choice of members of Parliament through the whole country, and so far Mr. Hare's system of personal representation has been more approved than any other by those awake to the importance of having minorities represented. Mr Stuart Mill called it, " 8 great discovery in the political art," and •poke of it as " having inspired all thoughtful persons, who have adopted it, with new and more eaDguine hopes respecting the .^fcgress of human society." The proposition is briefly this —Every elector is to have only one vote, which he may give to any candidate in the country that he pleases, without being bound to one proposed in his own locality. The total number of electors is to be divided by that of seats, and the result being the " unit of representation," the candidate having that number of votes is to be elected. An elector may place several names on his paper, so that when one candidate has had the requisite number counted for him, votes need not be thrown away, but may be recorded for the next in succession. By this method it is claimed, that men of eminence, who are not able to command the local support required to return them for a particular constituency, would be sure of a seat, and the country would retain the services of those it can never afford to lose. When the House of Commons had the good fortune to count Mr. Mill among its members, he tried in vain to get Mr Hare's system adopted, and at the next general election his rejection for a local man afforded an additional argument in its favor. No one doubted that many times the persons needed to return him would have voted for him, though he could not obtain a majority in any one place. The same lack of local support is known to have shut out many other men of national fame, and also the recognised mouth-pieces of particular classes or interests, whose total friends out-numbered any single constituency, though in a minority in each. '■.'., Men, fond of being called practical, have objected to Mr Hare's systsm as being no more than the dream of an accomplished theorist, declaring it to be utterly impossible to carry it out. Facts happen to be against them and with the philosopher, the plan having been.'.., adopted nearly, a quarter of a century ago in I>enmark,. and there found 10 satisfactory that it has been extended to fill eleetionß in-that kingdom. It would be premature to say positively that the system «hould certainly be made part of the eiten-

sive reforms projected by Sir George Grey, though it may safely be affirmed that it is deserving of serious consideration. There is nothing in it inconsistent with democratic principles, while there is much to commend it to all who desire to avoid changes brought about by some transient popular passion. The majority would still have- their way, while those of calmer temper would be in a position to aid by their arguments in mitigating the evils, never so dangerous as when excitement is unchecked by reason. Every question has two sides, and safety is generally found between, so that if one happens to be without competent advocates, exceßa, and in the end re-action, iB sure to result.