PROCEEDINGS OP SECTION G. 506 



which secures individual vote number 4. Robinson's 3,000 votei 



might be classified as follows, according to the distribution of the 

 individual vot^s : — 



Labour. Liberal. Nimiber. 



4 50 



3 1 700 



2 2 300 



1 3 ' 1,250 



4 700 



3,000 



Suppose that out of the 300 votes equally divided between 

 Liberals and Labour, the Liberals secured 150 votes with indivi- 

 dual vote No. 4, and Labour also 150. Then the Labour party 

 would secure 50 + 700 + 150, i.e., 900 of the party votes to be 

 transferred, and the Liberals would secure 150 + 1,250 + 700, 

 i.e., 2,100. 



The explanation, owing to the rather large amount of detail, 

 has the appearance of being lengthy, and perhaps involved. But 

 the principle underlying the method of transfer is perfectly 

 simple, and would be grasped immediately by a trained electoral 

 officer. And, be it remembered, that any system of proportional 

 representation must be worked by these trained experts. The 

 general public is only required to register its votes, and leave the 

 actual working of the machinery to other hands. 



Conclusion. 



As it is desirable to keep this paper within moderate limits, I 

 will not go into further points of detail. Differences of opinion 

 may arise as to whether the two dominant parties should be com- 

 pelled to nominate on their ticket as many candidates as there are 

 members to be elected, or whether they m.ay be left free to nominate 

 only as many as they think they can return. Questions like these, 

 however, may be left to be settled in the subsequent discussion. I 

 have been content to lay down broad general principles only. 



It was, however, only a minor consideration in the preparation 

 of this paper that a practical sclieme should be submitted which 

 might receive the iinprirnatvr of the Association. The major con- 

 sideration was to insure a public discussion of the principle of elec- 

 toral justice at a time which was above all others suitable, and by 

 a body of men eminently entitled to handle the subject. I have 

 very little doubt that every member of this section is a believer in 

 the adoption of some form of proportional representation, as 

 against the continuance of the present system. If a strong opinion 

 in this sense was elicited it could not fail to be of the utmost 

 weight at the present juncture. 



