THE QUOTA ASCERTAINED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17028, 30 April 1923, Page 6

THE QUOTA ASCERTAINED.

The official announcement of the quota in the election of City Councillors does not greatly alter the figure arrived at on the preliminary count. There were 17,601 valid votes, and the quota is therefore 1036. The candidates in the Labour and Citizens groups have gone back a little in the official count, while those in the Independent group have gained slightly. Using the same formula as was used in the “Star” on Friday, the seats ought to bo filled as follows :

10. CO 10 The official figures do not alter the probability that the seats will be filled in the nearest possible relation to the actual strength of the parties at the poll, although not in relation to the position of individual members of each party on the first preference list. One of the most interesting points connected with the poll is the* large numbei of invalid votes, and this year’s experience has been that of the last elec - tion, that about half of the papers were invalidated by striking out the names of candidates or placing crosses against favoured candidates, whilst 1 34.84 per cent were du e to misnumbering and 7.54 per cent to plumping. In the matter of misnumhering and plumping an amendment of the Act might very well be made, for the strongest supporters of proportional representation have never claimed that a voter should be compelled to mark preferences beyond the first place. A voter, having indicated by the figure 1 the candidate whom he favours, should be quite entitled to stop there, since he has cast a perfectly intelligent vote and may not be concerned with tbrother candidates. Tt is true that if hieandidate were not elected on first preferences his vote would become value less, but that is his affair. Logically ther© is no reason why a paper should be invalid if first or first and second preferences only are indicated, and vqlid if preferences up to the third place, and no further. ar a indicatd.

Valid Actual Votes. Strength. Seat Citizens 9884 8 88 9 Labour 6215 5.65 6 Independent 1502 1.27 1