BY-ELECTIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 July 1930, Page 7

BY-ELECTIONS.

(To the Editor.) Sir—The passing away of Sir Joseph Ward means that another by-election will soon take place —the fourth during the present Parliament, and nobody knows, but there may be -..more yet. Every by-election means considerable expense to the country, dislocation of affairs and economic loss. .. Times, are hard and we must practice economy, in every possible direction, we are told. I submit that economy could be effected ri<*ht here. Suppose there aie three candidates, A., B. and C., at a general election, and they are plaed in that order at the poll. If A. should resign his seat during the term, die or leave the country, then let B automatically assume his place. He is the- people s second choice, anyway, and if B. is not available, then take C., and so on. Should the seat of a candidate who went into the House unopposed fall vacant, then I should advocate a ..byelection in fairness to that electorate. Such an arrangement would be only to. fill vacancies and tide over the difficulty for the time being,* and. any dissatisfied ones would have an opportunity, of putting matters right at the following general election. I do not know if this practice obtains in any part of the Empire, but I think it is worth consideration. —I am, etc., . ■

PRO BONO PUBLICO.