THE SECOND BALLOT.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13747, 9 September 1908, Page 5

THE SECOND BALLOT.

I BILL PASSED BY THE HOUSE. MUCH OPPOSITION. ' I Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Sept. 8. In the House of Representatives today tliore was considerable discussion on the motion for the third reading of tho Second Ballot Bill. Mr Ell complained that the newspapers were giving the Opposition the whole- credit of the amendment declaring that 500 votes at the first ballot should be deemed to be an absolute majority. That was unfair, as several Government members had made the suggestion in writing to the Premier. He had noticed it was the habit of many newspapers not on the Liberal side of politics, to suppress from Press Association reports speeches made by Liber- < al members. , The Premier said some objection had been taken to the new clauses added late on Friday, on the ground that they interfered with the liberty of the Press. Those who argued that the liberty of the Press was interfered with overlooked the fact that for six or eight weeks before an election every opportunity was afforded for th,e fullest criticism of the views of the whole of the candidates. Moreover, between the first and second ballots newspapers would be at perfect liberty to discuss the policy of the Government or Opposition, so long as no particular candidate was opposed or supported. Under such circumstances, it was absurd to suggest that the liberty of the Press was interfered with, and he was surprised that any writer in the newspapers lacked intelligence enough to make the suggestion. _ Mr Massey, said the absurdity of the new clause, sub-section 1, was shown by the fact that it did not prevent anyone opposed to a candidate holding, meetings all over the, place between the first and second ballots to run him down, so long as he did not advocate the candidature of anyone else. The measure as a whole was not wanted by the country, and he predicted that in a few months those who voted for tne Bill would curse it, and ev^rything^connected with it. He strongly objefcted to this noxious weed transplanted from Germany to New Zealand soiL . Mr Rutherford, who opposed the Bill, quoted figures to show that it was likely under the second ballot that candidates would be continually retuim,'ed by less than an absolute majority 'of electors. i : . Mr Herries said. the Bill mjjs present form was unworkable. The Cxovernment newspapers condemned the Bill as well as those supporting the Oppdsition. He had found in previous elections that the official declaration of the poll was not' declared for several days, as much as seven days^ yet it was provided that the second poll take place seven days after the close of the poll. The second poll should be seven days after the official declaration of the first poll. Referring to the new clauses, Mr Herries pointed out that newspapers would have to wait tor the official declaration of the P<?U before conunjenting qn the results of -the election or .commenting upon, the success or fai^urej of any candidate. He generally condemned, the principles of the second iballot.,,. .- . *-. Mr lfl&h& piropheapch-mariy electoral troubles and datogefl under the Bill, which was" favoured by men of means. Mr Izard accepted the Bill as a compromise between, the, present and the preferential systems. ' Dr. Chappie said/ the Bill was an expedient of the party politician, not the reform of statesmen. - Mr Wilford said that under the Bill one could blackguard an opponent so long as> one did not say anything m support of oneself.' The Premier, replying, said he had never heard more illogical or narrow reasoning than that of Mr Massey., It was impossible to devise a basis for,proportional representation. During forty years in Germany hot a single proposal had been made to repeal the second ballot system. He again justified the amendments made in the Bill, on the ground that they tended -to prevent undue pressure being brought to bear between the two polls. He declared that all the amendments made in committee had been suggested by Jhis side of the House, not by the Opposition. - , . r. The third reading was agreed to by 37 votes to 14, and the Bill passed. \- — — —— — — «— i — ■— — — —