25 



majority. To prove that the same evils are perpetuated under 

 the new system, Mr. EawcUffe quoted similar results in the last 

 General Election at Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester, and 

 other large towns, which are divided into equal electoral 

 districts. 



Mr. F. J. Grant said the matter resolved itself into two 

 questions, viz : — Were there irregularities under the present sys- 

 tem, and would Proportional Representation effectually remove 

 them if such existed ? As examples of the anomalies of the 

 present system, he instanced Wales, where 98,593 Liberal votes 

 returned 22 candidates, and 67,593 Conservative votes sent three 

 members. Tlie proper proportion would have been 15 Liberals 

 to 10 Tories. In the western and south-western districts of 

 Scotland (containing more than half the entire population of that 

 country) the Consei-vative vote at the last election was 45 per 

 cent., and would thus be entitled to 21 members, whereas the 

 actual result was only eight. He could not admit that the 

 Liberals of Essex were represented by the Liberal members for 

 Yorkshire, or that the Conservatives of Yorkshire were repre- 

 sented by the Tory members for Essex ; there was very little 

 community of interest between the two counties. 



Mr. W. L. Grant thought that in the long run competent 

 statesmen were sure to find constituencies to represent. The 

 common sense of the people was against a complex and mystify- 

 ing system of voting. The proposed schemes were of more 

 perfect symmetry but of less simplicity than the old system. 



Mr. Ward said that the present system, though clumsy, yet 

 ensured the representation of minorities. Even the three-cor- 

 nered constituency had many advantages. The best example of 

 proportional representation was the University vote, which en- 

 abled constituents scattered over the whole kingdom to elect the 

 man of their choice. Was it practicable to extend that system 

 to embrace all England ? 



In summing up the discussion, the Chairman (Mr. B. Sagar) 

 showed that there was much to be said on both sides. He 

 thought as intelligence advanced the people would get nearer 

 some form of Proportional Representation. 



THE DRAMA OF TO-DAY. 



Bjj J. 0. S. THURSBY, J. P. Fehruanj 23rd, 1886. 



Mr. Thursby contrasted the position of the actor in former 

 times, when he was defined by Act of Parhament as "a rogue 

 and vagabond," with his position to-day — feted, courted and 

 wealthy. The/itage ought to be a means of innocent enjoyment ; 



