"78 QUOTA IN PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. 



51. The rules for a three-party contest in a constituency 

 returning an even number of members would then be : — 



I. Divide the total of the votes for each list by the elec- 

 toral unit (§ 22). For each whole electoral unit contained 

 in the votes for a list allocate a seat to the list. 



II. If the largest party has between 50 per cent, and 

 60 per cent, of all the votes, give it one more seat than 

 the number it obtains under I. 



III. Subject to Rule II., allocate the one seat or the 

 two seats remaining to the party or parties having the 

 largest remainder or remainders. 



If the constituency returned an odd number of mem- . 

 bers, use Rules I. and III. only. 



52. In a contest between two parties, each of the methods 

 will give the same result; and Rules I. to III. above will 

 be used. 



53. It is to be noted in conclusion that the differences 

 described in this paper between the various systems and 

 the various quotas are only minor matters, though import- 

 ant in deciding between the various methods of securing 

 proportional representation ; and the discussion of them 

 should not be allowed to distract attention from the sub- 

 stantial advantages which any system of proportional 

 representation has over any non-proportional system. 



In the preparation of this paper, I have been much 

 indebted to Professor A. McAulay and Mr. L. F. Giblin 

 for advice and criticism. 



