566 



PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G^. 



It has, then, been shown that, by three simple reforms, each, 

 quite simple in the practical working out, glai'ing electoral inequalities 

 car be cured, and results generally accepted as fair can be attained. 

 But tiiis does not bring us to the solution of the three^party problem. 

 It remains to be shown how the proxy vote may enable us to get over 

 this difficulty. 



The effects of the scheme proposed so far ai'e merely to allow each 

 elector to annex himself, body and soul, to one of the three parties, 

 and to enable him to give a truly effective vote for his party. The 

 result may be, as we have seen ad nauseam in practical politics, merely 

 " three elevens." The only way out is by compromise. But, as our 

 legislators are not good at this, it is now time for the electors them- 

 selves to take a hand, and the proxy vote will enable tliem to do so 

 effectually. 



The existence of three' general policies has in the past divided tliC 

 electors into three parties, each in favour of one of the three policies, 

 and against the other two. This position has been forced on politicians 

 and electors by an electoral system in which there is not room for 

 more than two parties. But, in reality, three policies divide the 

 electors into six parties. There are three parties of the type already 

 stated. But there are also three of another type, each in favour of 

 two of the policies, and against the third policy. These are the " com- 

 pvoinise" parties, which alone can help us out of our present dilemma. 

 Til enable them to do so, all that is necessary is to have districts 

 returning six members apiece. 



Let us now see how this idea Avill deal with the three-party 

 problem in the three-party case already discussed. Let the three 

 parties be Government, Opposition, and Third party. 



Let an elector in favour of Government pf)licy and against the 

 otlier two be said to be of type G. Also, let an elector in favour of 

 Opposition and Third party policies but against Government policy be 

 said to be of type OT ; and so in other cases. Then the electors and 

 candidates already dealt with in the three-party case might be further 

 cla ssified as follows :— 



Thus it has been assumed that A and his 102 supporters were in 

 favour of Government and Third party policies, and that B and his 

 102 supporters were against Opposition and Third party policies, and 

 similarly in other cases. 



