FRANCHISE SYSTEM

Taranaki Daily News, 4 September 1935, Page 4

FRANCHISE SYSTEM

NO CHANGE WANTED THIS YEAR. ALL SECTIONS IN AGREEMENT. By Telegraph—Press' Association. Wellington, Last Night. Preferential voting and the possibility of the Government’s altering the electoral laws before the general election have been widely discussed recently in some parts of New Zealand, particularly at Wellington, but statements made recently by the Prime Minister indicate clearly that the Government is not interested in the matter. Moreover, private members of Parliament who are interested in electoral reform do not think that any attempt should be made to bring about the change this session. Mr. C. H. .Clinkard (Coalition, Rotorua), who has twice introduced Bills to provide for preferential voting, stated to-day that he did not intend to take any further action during the lifetime of the present Parliament. He said the measures he had brought down in the past had received no support, and he thought the Prime Minister was right in saying that ‘lt was not playing the game to change the rules just before the match.” Nor does the Lal mr Party favour any alteration at present. The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. M. J. Savage, said to-day that the demand for preferential voting appeared to come from people who were endeavouring to manipulate the electoral system to keep Labour out of office.