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Gisborne Times, 17 October 1908, Page 4

THE SECOND BALLOT MILL 'Now that election clay is rapidly , preaching, it may-bo as well to dr special to the manner which:, the "voting will be aitected. the .Second Ballot Mill, which has j been passed into law, Foi’. the p

'poses of an illustration we* may take tiie’case of the'Gisborne electorate as a particularly appropriate- one. I'or -this seat the only candidates announced so far are Messrs. Carroll, Clayton and Darton. We will assume the voting on the first ballot to- have been: Carroll 2000, Clayton 1300, Darton 1200. Under the old law -dr. Carroll would have been declared elected, though actually representing a minority of the votes polled. Under the new Bill a fresh poll would be taken, in which the name of Mr. Darton would be eliminated, and the issue would then be a straight-out one between Messrs Carroll ond Clayton! In this event it is quite conceivable that the winner on the first count might bo defeated on the second, for those who voted for Mr. Darton in the first instance might come to the conclusion that the next best thing to getting their candidate in was to get the Government candidate out, and by supporting Mr. Clayton give him the desired majority. If the feeling against the Government were really as strong as such figures would indicate, the result would fully justify the new Act, but there are many cases in which its operation would be anything but satisfactory. Another imaginary result of the first count may be given as follows: Carroll 2000, Clayton 1300, Darton 1299.. In this case the third man would ho ruled out at once, whereas, had the real wishes of the whole of the electors been obtainable, lie [might have been more acceptable to ithc electors tlian either of the otlbr candidates. Then, again, it is practically a certainty that a very lage proportion of voters would not attend to take part in the second poll —h fact, with the 6 important collatissue of no-licenso eliminated-, it is sab to say that the result would be deeded by less than 50 per cent of thee who had voted in the first instance. In other words, the new meiiber might retain his seat despite tliefwislies of a large number of those v.h< had at the first poll taken the tro’ble to vote. Of course, it may bo [urged that those who took the trouble to vote twice were entitled to elejb their representative, but this is noj. a very satisfactory' explanation. Tli- fact of the matter is the Second Balot Bill is, after all, but a very imprfoct method of grappling with a serous blot on our electoral system. Thl object which, it is admitted, shqld be aimed at, is that so far-as is jossibl© the desires of a majority of [lie electors shall be obtained, and thi can only' be secured under such a sy.“Jem as was outlined in Mr. McNaj's Absolute Majority Bill; In this scheme there is only one ballot, buithe voter indicates on the ballot par.r the order of his preference for the different candidates. Thus, in th< imaginary case above quoted, a veer would leave his paper marked: Or roll 1, Clayton 2, Darton 3, meanig that if Mr. Carroll were not to b ? elected lie would next prefer Mr. Cayton. In such a ease with the ■ftiug Carroll 2000, Clayton 1300, lirton 1299, consideration of the pre_ initial values would show which of iq three candidates was most acceptble to the majority of the voters.s a matter of fact, it might very asily be either of the three. This

jesirabl© result would be obtained t Without any second ballot, but with , lome little extra calculations by the . rolling officers, and such a system ippears to have much more to recom- , Wend it than the one favored by the ’ government. However, in the case , if the Gisborne electorate, it is quite -Possible the new Act may work to the I benefit of the community by bring|ang about a change that is an cmi|nently desirable one. With a ' block I vote . from Government supporters—.land in these days of political patronage being used at every turn, this is Ja big item—and the active assistance lof the liquor trade, it would be sur- | prising were IMr. Carroll not to obtain the highest number of votes on the first ballot. On the other hand/ it may lie accepted as a practical cerhe will not secure an absolute majority of tho votes polled, and it is quite conceivable that- the very strong feeling which exists in this . district- in favor of a reform in" Government, as well as for a change of representative, might result in one or other of his two opponents defeating him at the second count.