632 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G (l.). 



Here, then, we may leave tlie subject, with these concluding re- 

 marks. " That State enterprise in industrial matters, as in most others, 

 ought not, and generally does not, restrict individual liberty of action, 

 but on the contrary extends it. The happiness of the individual is 

 best promoted by allowing him the greatest freedom of action com- 

 patible with the welfare of the community. The present system, 

 now fast passing away, does not do this, and it is for this reason that 

 it is being replaced by another better fitted to the requirements of 

 civilised society." 



-THE OEIGIN OF OUR POLITICAL IDEALS. 



By Professor JETHRO BROWN, LL.D. 



3.— PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. 



% Miss C. H. 8PENCE. 

 [Abridged.] 



I must first ask you what representation is, and if each of you is 

 represented in the Assembly, in the Legislative Council, in the House 

 of Representatives and the Senate ? That is, are the men you voted 

 for in these assemblies ? If they are not, you are not represented. 

 If they are, is it the case that all your fellow-electors were represented. 

 What is the difference between disfranchising a man and not counting 

 his vote for anyone ? Under the proportional preferential system 

 every voter has his vote counted to his credit. 



By the Golden Rule, if a man desires an effective vote for himself 

 he also desires it for his fellows, but the present business of politicians 

 is to make thousands of votes ineffective. It is also their business 

 to limit candidates. In every free country it ought to be a good thing 

 to have many candidates with various convictions and aspirations, 

 but by the majority system an additional candidate is looked on as a 

 menace. How little people understand the principles of political 

 liberty when they would fine the man who has a small following ! 

 And, although we may deplore the apathy which keeps electors 

 from the poll, I would neither stir them up by party agents extolling 

 one and generally misrepresenting the other side, nor would I fine or 

 disfranchise them for their neglect. Voting should be the free act of 

 free men and women, and all canvassing is an interference with freedom. 



As the Belgian Conservative Ministry, with an enormous majority 

 at its back, gave to Belgium the electoral reform which its wisest men 

 had been advocating for 20 years, and greatly reduced its apparent 

 strength, so I hope that the Labor-Liberal Ministry of South Australia 

 may see that this is the psychological moment to give what I call 

 effective voting by the Hare system to this State. As Thomas Hare 

 and Stuart Mill said 50 years ago, the safeguard of democracy is more 

 democracy. South Australia never had single electorates, and I hope 

 never will have, for experience of long years in America and shorter trial 

 in the United Kingdom shows that this may let the Government rest on 



