On Wednesday night Mr. Aneurin Williams proposed in the House
of Commons a Motion in favour of proportional representation, which was supported by Members from every part of the House. Mr. Burns, on behalf of the Government, threw cold water on the proposal, and declared pessi- mistically that "there were many anomalies and injustices in the electoral system which proportional representation would not eradicate." Finally, however, he announced that if the Government were not regarded as pledged to bring in a Bill either this or next Session, they were prepared to leave the matter to the judgment of the House. The Motion was thereupon carried without a division. That is a subject for no small congratulation, and marks a stage in the development of this most important reform. We say without hesitation that proportional representation is the greatest political need of our day. Without this corrective the party system will gradually grow stricter and tighter, and in the end will strangle all liberty and independence in the nation.
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