REFORMING THE BALLOT. [To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
Sra,—The suggestion of Mr. E. T. Good (Spectator, August 21st) that the steady and stable elements should have extra voting powers in miners' ballots, however good in itself, would never be even considered so long as the franchise for Imperial Parlia- ment is extended in the same value to all, irrespective of merit and condition. If it were possible for Parliament to lead the way, other institutions might follow; and, though it is unlikely that public support would be given to a franchise which gave one man double or treble the voting power of another, a less marked increase in value which would tend to supplement the collective vote of the steadier elements might receive the sup- port, not only of the latter, but of younger men who intend to qualify for the higher vote.
To lessen the chance of the votes of the more responsible elements being swamped by those who have neither ties nor stakes in the country, I would suggest the following system of plural voting : Every adult will be entitled to a vote with the value of 3, which is indivisible, and must be given as a whole or not at all. Persons who possess certain qualifications will have votes that count as 4 or 5. The maximum will be 5, no matter how many times a person qualifies for an extra vote; so no single voter will be equal to two. One extra vote will be granted to any person coming within one of the following cate- gories, or two extra votes to a person coming within more than one of them; these being the votes of values of 4 or 5 respect tively.
Members of Parliament and of local ruling bodies; heads of Universities; Army officers of the rank of captain and over, and non-commissioned officers of the rank of sergeant and over, with corresponding grades in the Navy and Air Force; owners of immovable plant or property of the value of over £1,000, if under their own management; practising members of the learned professions; editors of prominent journals; bank managers; managing employers, managers, foremen and gangers over 10 skilled, or 25 unskilled, hands; trades union agents; farmers tilling their own farms; householders living in their own houses; married men supporting wife and child or children. The list might be extended, always bearing in mind that it is intended for none save those whose position implies that they have acquired a sense or responsibility, or whose ties in this country should have that effect. Those who qualify twice, and have 5 votes, we may call Class A; possessors of 4 votes, Class B; and those without ties or responsibilities, Class C. In number of heads, Class C is far more numerous than A and B, though the aggregate of intelligence, experience and responsibility in the latter classes is probably equally in advance of C. While numbers will still prevail in the ballot box, an adjustment on the lines indicated will make the votes of 3 voters in Class A equal to 5 in Class C, and 3 in Class B will equal 4 in Class C.
The preponderating numbers of Class C will probably still see them in a majority, though not in an overwhelming one. Also, there will be a good deal of overlapping. I have men-
tioned the steady young Class C men. There will also be not a few Class B voters who will side with irresponsibility and recklessness, and whose very qualification for the extra vote may be a rash marriage. But these exceptions will not affect the general issue. The same idea, modified to suit industrial ballots, would tend to reduce the number of unnecessary strikes, and, while acting as a deterrent on the " wild man, would unify and strengthen the forces of labour as a whole.—
I am, Sir, &c., JENNIE JENKINS. Gelly, Cymmer (Port Talbot), Glamorgan.
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