8 APRIL 1911, Page 15

THE PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION SOCIETY.

[TO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] 11110R,—With reference to the letter from Lord Avebury in your *rue of March 25th, appealing to your readers for financial aid in carrying forward the cause of proportional representation, may I be permitted to add a few words ? A Society such as this, political in nature yet quite outside the lines of party politics, has consider- able difficulty in raising a sufficient income for its needs. The movement is gaining steadily in moral support, and it is pleasant to record a constant increase in the sympathy which it meets in this country as well as abroad, but many who fully approve of the principle do net realise how great is the expenditure entailed by educational propaganda. The present time, when it seems not un- likely that the Constitution and the forms of government will be remodelled in several important respects, is one for still greater activity in work of an educational kind. We have now reached a stage when proportional representation has come to be a primary consideration in any scheme for improving the character of our representative bodies, and we even feel that the time may soon be ripe for a practical test of our proposals.

A member of the Society has made an offer of £50 conditional upon other sympathisers raising the sum to £500, either in the form of four contributions of £100 and one of £50, or in nine further donations of £50. May I appeal to the generosity of the readers of the Spectator to enable this Society to avail itself of this

Hon. Secretary.

179 St. Stephen's House, Westminster Bridge, S.W.