PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTA1 ION. (To THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.")
Sin,—Permit me to say how strongly the British Constitution 'Association has upheld the need of Proportional Representation. The decay of the influence of Parliament has been largely due to the limitation of it to those who accept party programmes entire. The exclusion of some most capable men who venture to think for themselves has been a scandal. If a moderate opening for genuine opinion is not provided—as now proposed—there may come a revolution against the whole of the Trebitsch system of unknown nominees, and members pledged to whatever a party leader may propose. At present no House of Commons has represented more than two-thirds of the votes actually cast, and sometimes not even a half. Proportional Representation will give something more like a representative Assembly.—I am, Sir, &c.,
W. M. FLINDERS PETRIE,
President of the British Constitution Association. 8 Well Road, Hampstead, N.W. 3.
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