The Hawaiian gazette., 1888-07-03

The subject OF minority representation
has been very extensively discussed,
and the discussion of course has resulted
in the elaboration of good many diff
ferent plans, each having some special
advantages. The subject has been very
thoroughly discussed by NJ. NaYille in a
number of lucid pamphlets, and the
merits of the various schemes exhaust
lively considered We will content our
selves here, however, with a hasty re-
production of what is known as Mr..
Hare's and NJ. Andrae's plan, as set
forth in Mills Essay on Representative
Government. We give the plan in Mr..
Mills own words:
According to this plan, the unit of repre-
Sentaton, the quota OF electors who would
be entitled to have member to them
selves, would be ascertained by the ordi-
nary process of taking averages, the num-
Der of voters being divided by the number
of seats in the House, and every candidate
who obtained that quota would be return
ed, from however great number of local
constituencies it might be gather ed. The
votes would, as at present, be given To-
cally; but any elector would be at liberty
to vote for any candidate in whatever part
of the country he might offer himself.
Those electors, therefore, who do not wish
to be represented by any of the local can
didateS, might aid by their vote in the re-
turn of the person they liked best among
all those throughout the country who had
expressed a willingness to be chosen
This would, so far give reality to the cleo
tOral rights of the otherwise virtually dis
franchised minority. But ii Is important
that not those alone who refuse to vote for
any of the local candidates, but those also
who vote for one of them and are defeated,
should be enabled to find elsewhere the
representation which they have not sue
Ceeded in obtaining in their own district.
1t is therefore provided that an elector
may deliver voting paper, containing
other names in addition to the one which
stands foremost In his preference. His
vote would only be counted for one candi-
date; but if the object of his first choice
failed to be returned, from not having OBJ
tained the quota, his second perhaps
might be more fortunate. He may eI-
tend his list to greater number, in the
order OF his preference, so thatif the names
which stand near the top OF the list either
cannot make up the quota, or are able to
make it up without his vote, the vote may
still be used for some one whom it may
assist in returning. To obtain the full
number of members required to complete |
the House, as well as to prevent very popu- |
lar candidates from engrossing nearly all
the suffrages, it is necessary, however |
many votes candidate may obtain, that |
no more of them than the quota should be |
counted for his return; the remainder of |
those who voted for him would have their |
votes counted for the next person on their |
respective lists who needed them, and |
could by their aid complete the quota. To |
determine which OF a candidates votes |
should be used for his return, and which |
set free for others, several methods are |
proposed. into which we shall not here |
enter. He would of course retain the votes |
of all those who would not otherwise be |
represented, and for the remainder, draw |
ing lots, in default of better, would be an |
unObjectionable expedient The voting |
papers would be conveyed to "A central |
office, where the votes would be counted. |
the number OF first, second, third and |
other votes given for each candidate ascer-
tanned, and the quota would be allotted to
every one who could make it up until the |
number Of the House was complete; first
votes being preferred to second, second to
third, and so forth. The voting papers,
and all the elements of the calculation |
cessible to all whom they concerned; and
if any one who had obtained the quota was
not duly returned, it would be in his power
easily to prove it.
Now we by no means advocate
this system throughout
the group. 1t is for us too expert
and would involve at this late
day too extensive changes IN the bill.
But why could it not be tried in Homo
ulu? 1t would certainly result in repre-
any minority which is equal to
4 fifth, even to majority of fifth, Of
Ill the voters in the district. 1t would
10 with absolute certainty what the
division into wards may or may not do J