After Mr. Leslie Scott had pointed out the very significant
fact that no country which had adopted Proportional Representation had ever gone back upon it and that its history was one of con- tinuous progress, and Sir George Reid had said that neither Australia, South Africa, nor Canada, though they had discussed the question, had adopted Proportional Representation, Mr. Herbert Samuel made a curious contribution to the debate. Though he appeared to doubt the advantages of Proportional Representation, he yet declared that the House ought to try the experiment for a limited field—i.e., in provincial boroughs. Lord Hugh Cecil made a very eloquent and effective speech in favour of Proportional Represen- tation. He looked forward to the first task after the war being the restoration of the liberty of the individual. Ho wanted to make our country again a free country.
Previous page
