The Prime Minister declared stoutly, in spite of UniOnist laughter,
that the Bill would enable the majority of voters to express themselves more plainly. The Unionists naturally wished to preserve a system which had sm.\ e them well, and had enabled them, for instance, in the last Parliament to appear as a majority_ although they had a minority of . votes throughout. .the country. He then delivered an attack upon Proportional Representation, which afflicted the Liberals with profound sadness: For our part we agree with him. He said that Pro- portional Representation would turn the House of Commons into a mere. collection of minorities. Surely that is true. In the abstract Proportional Representation is just ; it gives every minority its proper mathematical share of representation ; yet it inevitably weakens the power behind those large issues which can always. be discerned as the interests of the normal voter. The result is that the Government are left without the clear mandate whiCh every Government requires for putting legislation through. * .*
Previous page
