PARTY TIME

THE letter by Peter Jones recommending the factions in both Labor and Liberal parties split into separate parties is about the most sensible I have read in a long time (Mercury, August 30).

The present party system based on two major parties has become dysfunctional. Party squabbles have become their major concern, and we the public suffer.

The Scandinavian system of many smaller parties negotiating on an issue-by-issue basis works well; their citizens trust and even honour their politicians.

It is time, with the surely imminent change in the numbers in the lower house, that we think hard about how we can do better than the current mess.

John Biggs

Mt Nelson