This letter is in the 2009-05-11 Times Colonist Letters section.
New Zealanders back STV
I recently returned from three weeks in New Zealand, where I was reminded that they adopted a mixed member proportional representational system back in the early 1990s. When I asked the woman to whom I was speaking what she thought of it , she replied, "It's better than the old system, but you get a lot of fringe parties represented. We should have gone for STV."
Naturally, I was interested and asked how she knew about STV. "We use it for local elections," was the answer. So after that, I asked virtually everyone I met for their opinion. Here's the result. Total number: 46. Six favoured first past the post, 15 favoured mixed member proportional and 25 preferred STV.
That convinced me, as I have a lot of respect for New Zealanders. Given that they abolished their upper house in the 1950s, I figure they're a lot more politically astute than we are.
Ian Cameron, Brentwood Bay
New Zealanders back STV
I recently returned from three weeks in New Zealand, where I was reminded that they adopted a mixed member proportional representational system back in the early 1990s. When I asked the woman to whom I was speaking what she thought of it , she replied, "It's better than the old system, but you get a lot of fringe parties represented. We should have gone for STV."
Naturally, I was interested and asked how she knew about STV. "We use it for local elections," was the answer. So after that, I asked virtually everyone I met for their opinion. Here's the result. Total number: 46. Six favoured first past the post, 15 favoured mixed member proportional and 25 preferred STV.
That convinced me, as I have a lot of respect for New Zealanders. Given that they abolished their upper house in the 1950s, I figure they're a lot more politically astute than we are.
Ian Cameron, Brentwood Bay
