ELECTORAL REFORM.

Waikato Times, Volume 98, Issue 15320, 22 August 1923, Page 6

ELECTORAL REFORM.

POSTPONED LEOISi-ATION.

DISSATISFIED MEMBERS.

By Telegraph.—Special to Times. The Prime Minister's method of redeeming his forgotten promise to Introduce an Electoral Reform Bill during the present session of Parliament is not meeting with the approval of either of the parties that constitute His Majesty’s Opposition in the House of Representatives. Mr. Massey had promised a measure of this description during the short session, but apparently the matter had slipped his memory altogether till he was reminded of it at the beginning of the present session, when he undertook to keep his word whatever difficulties might stand m his way. Early on Saturday morning, during the all-night sitting of the House, however, he stated that the Bin would not be passed this session. He vouchafed the Information that lt womfl oonsists of over forty clauses, that it would provide for compulsory registration, that it would extend the residential qualification from one month to three months and that it would not be a party measure. All this was very interesting in Its own way, but he threw no light upon the rumours of the Minister’s Intention to substitute proportional representation in the city electorates and preferential voting in the rural electorates for the present first-past-the-post system. ■Dissatisfaction.

H is the system of election rather than the methods of enrolment that concerns the opponents of the Government They quote the general election of 19i9, when the Reformers secured forty-four seats with a vote whioh should have given them only twenty-eight or twenty-nine _ as a “horrid example” of the operation of the present clumsy and inequitable system. They also quoted Mr. Massey’s eulogy of proportional representation and his promise to substitute something better for the second ballot his party voted out nine years ago. There is reason to believe, however, that the Bill Mr. Massey has in his pocket, as he put it the other day,, really does » contain more than he mentioned to the House on Saturday morning. It was put’ about by the newspapers more than a month ago that the Minister intended to apply proportional representation to the large town constituencies and preferential voting to the others, and his own reticence on the subject has encouraged the idea that this was either his intention or an ingeniously designed kite to ascertain the direction In which the wind of public opinion was blowing. It may be that the Reform breeze has been found to be an adverse one.

“The Country Quota.”

Members of the House had an opportunity to express their opinion of proportional representation when the estimates were under consideration on Saturday morning. Mr. P. Fraser, proposed that the vote of £9,021 for the Eleotoral Department should be reduced by £5 as an intimation that the House desired the principle of proportional representation- to be embodied in legislation, in discussing the motion Mr. Wllford said the Liberal Party stood for proportional representation with the “country quota,” and took an interjection from the Minister of Justice to mean that the Party was not likely to get it. The motion on being put to the committee was rejected by 37 to 29, Mr. Massey remarking when the voting was announced, “There goes proportional representation.” Probably the Liberals, with a keen eye upon the country constituencies, are disposed to attach over much importance, from an electioneering point of view, to the preservation of the country quota. They would_be sure to be penalised at the polls if they deprived the country electors of the 28 per cent advantage in representation they obtain under the existing system, but in these days there is scarcely a politician with a word to say In support of their privilege.