THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, MAY 24, 1928. SPLITTING VOTES.

Wairarapa Age, 24 May 1928, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, MAY 24, 1928. SPLITTING VOTES.

At a superficial view there may appear to be something in the contention of the Acting-Leader of the United Party (Mr G. W. Forbes) that his organisation is not really open to a charge of vote-splitting, because. the Government has the option of introducing a measure of electoral reform providing for the preferential system of voting. Little thought is needed, however, to show that Mr Forbes and his political associates cannot thus easily rid themselves of the reproach of wantonly dividing the moderate political forces of the Dominion. To introduce, a Bill providing for the institution of preferential voting is one thing, and to secure its passage is another thing altogether. Judging by the experience of the comparatively recent past, it is very doubtful indeed if. such a Bill could be forced through Parliament in a final session, at all events without prolonging the session, anc| delaying the general election to such an extent as to put the country generally to serious inconvenience. Moreover, even if such a Bill yvere passed unopposed, it would hardly be practicable to put it into force at the impending general election. There is no evidence that a sv&tem of preferential voting is desired by either a majority in the House of Representatives or by x the country, There is a .good deal of evidence to the con trary. A system of this kind is the less to be desired since experience in* many lands has shown that one of tho principal effects of the arrangements that are intended to guard against vote-splitting is to intensify the undoubted evils of group politics. The vital charge to be laid at the door of Mr. Forbes and his political associates is that they are attempting to create artificial political divisions. It will be time enough for the members of the United Party to advocate alterations in the electoral system when they have shown that there is any real basis on which to establish a third political party in New Zealand. They have been demonstrating in a mild way for months, but does anyone kiow even now what their policy is, or on what vital point they ate prepared to dissent from the policy to which the Reform Party is committed? They will not make their poor case better by advocating seme hurried tinkering with the system of Parliamentary election.