PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G (l.). 633 



a parliamentary majority wHcli does not mean a majority even of the 

 people who have votes and who exercise them. Large majorities in 

 great centres of population, small majorities in rural districts on the other 

 side, may give that result. And the change of a comparatively small 

 number of votes brings such results as the Unionist-Conservative 

 majority of 134 in 1900 and a Liberal majority of 354 over the Unionists 

 in 1906. The real majority, according to votes polled, should have been 

 IG and 94. 



Unfortunately, the multiple electorates in South Australia, like 

 the important elections for six senators for the Federal Upper House, 

 are conducted by the block vote, and we see in the metropolitan area 

 that two-fifths of the voters are extinguished by three-fifths, and instead 

 of the vote being seven to five all 12 are returned for the Labor-Liberal 

 Party. Nor do I think that even by astute gerrymandering of single 

 electorates the result would be difierent. The Conservatives would 

 be defeated in detail instead of wholesale. 



The remedy for this is by proportional representation — by giving 

 each voter the power not only to notify his first preference but to tell 

 what is to be done with his vote, in case his favorite has too few or too 

 many votes above the quota necessary for his election. That means 

 that he votes by means of figures quite as easy and pleasanter than by 

 crosses. There is no complexity for the voter and very little for the 

 returning ofl&cer, for regulations are laid down in our Bill for every 

 contingency. 



Do not think that preferential voting in single electorates will do 

 any good. It will more effectually extinguish minorities. Do not 

 think that proportional representation is only a fad — it is a live subject. 

 In America, where it is needed sorely, the line of the least resistance 

 is in municipal elections. In Canada it is advocated by a strong 

 minister in the Dominion House of Commons for the Senate elections, 

 and my good friend Mr. Robert Tyson is using it for elections for muni- 

 cipal and for trades and labor councils. 



The success in Belgium induced many French deputies to go to 

 watch the election of 1906, the fourth under the new system, and 

 M. Charles Benoist is the leader of 250 deputies of all parties who are 

 working for this reform. It is mainly advocated by Independent- 

 Liberals who, under the second ballot system, find they are extinguished 

 between the more numerous Socialists and the clerical Conservatives. 



The new Finnish constitution not only gives adult suffrage, with 

 eligibility of membership to women, but it provides for minorities by 

 proportional representation. Holland is stirred by the examples of 

 Belgum, and is agitating foi proportional representation for the States- 

 General. Germany, like France, is counting the votes given in the 

 single electorates, and finds that the Social Democrats ought to have 

 had a far larger representation. Denmark and Sweden are discussing 

 the matter, and there has been a strong revival in England under 

 Lord Avebury, formerly Sir John Lubbock, and Leonard, now Lord 

 Courtney, with Mr. John Humphreys as secretary. I have worked 

 for this great cause since 1859, and I believe that it will prevail. 



