AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5667, 11 September 1896, Page 6 (Supplement)

AN ABSOLUTE MAJORITY.

TO THE BDiTOB. Sib,— The extract from the Wc-iigdnui Herald in your, issue of Sept. 8 on this mode of election appears to be incorrect. In the figures employed, to illustrate the method of voting, the total votes are 3400, and on the third count a total of 3800 is obtained. This cannot be obtained without the same ballot paper being counted twice for one candidate. Only one ballot paper .can be counted for any one candidate at a time in ihe first count ; then the second, third, _or fourth choice on ballots of the retired candidates can "be" counted, which, in the case of the illustration could not exceed 1500. The voteß given to C and D intliefixst count would be transferred to A and B as second, third or fourth choicer The votes originally given to A and B could not be counted again. That would be plural voting. The candidates must be retired one by one in the counting, always the lowest one going out. Otherwise the result may be as you already clearly showed would be the case under the proposed Bill of Mr Seddon, in which only the two highest were rebailoted for. For instance, A Conservative, B Prohibitionist, C Liberal and D. Radical put up as candidates for one district :— • First Vote, 2nd Count. 3rd do. Total. A 1000 100 300 1400 B 900 100 __*—■■ C 800 500 700 2000 D 700 — — ■ ■ — C elected. Under the present mode of election A, who only gets 1000 votes, is elected, being less than 30 per cent of the votes polled, and this is called representation of the people ! What an absurdity ! Under preferential voting as shown above, D, the Radical, being the lowest, is retired, and naturally the most of the next choice would go to C, the Liberal. Then B was the next lowest, retired, and those who voted for him would choose A or C, whoever they preferred as their second choice, and if any of them selected D for Becond choice, their third choice would be counted, which was bound to be for Aor C, as B and' D were their first or second choice and' retired. This system gives an absolute majority to our representatives of the feeling of the country, and destroys the power of any class representation as a class, which is kept up by splitting votes amoiig rivals. It would not cost a penny more for elections. — lam, &c, A REFOEMEE.