MMP is not for me!

Reading letters written by supporters of the proposed new voting system, it seems to me there is an urgent need to point out a few things before the rot spreads too far.

The one sentence that surely condemns the whole thing has to be: "The only difference in MMP is that the public would vote for a group of representatives, instead of for an individual." So much for a thousand years of development of parliamentary government! No longer do we listen to what a candidate has to say, evaluate his sincerity, his platform and his past record, then make up our minds.We are expected to vote for some "group," chosen by the who-careswhat method.

If that is their idea of a reasonable system, it isn't mine.

Also, contrary to the tone of most of the letters, both Mr. Hoy and myself have read

and understood the proposals, and have made up our minds accordingly. It would therefore be appreciated if supporters of the proposed new system would drop this line of attack and concentrate on the technicalities, as I have attempted to do.

John C. Tysoe

Cheltenham