LOCAL ELECTIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 227, 22 September 1920, Page 8

LOCAL ELECTIONS.

ELECTORAL REFORM. RUJUED OUT OF ORDER. *tßy Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) ! WEDLIXGTOS", Tuesday. iS proposal to meike easier the introShietion of proportional representation in local elections was made in the House of Representatives when the Municipal Corporations Bill was considered in committee. Mr. !D. G. Sullivan ( : Avon) eaid ii afoouki be open to people to petition » local body to give them An opportunity of saying whether proportional representation should be employed.. • Mr. Massey: By a straight out vote. Mr. Sullivaji: Yes. Mr. J. A. Nash (•Paimereton) explained Chat consideration ihad ibeen given by the committee to the scheme, and it was not thought desirable. Mr. P. Fraser contended that the eyetem 'had worked quite weH in ChristduiToh. He moved an amendment to the local elections clauses in the Bill, "that if ten per cent of [the electors petition b borough council in favour of proportional representation in local elections the Council shall euomit the question to the decision of a referendum." Mr. Maesey, who was in charge of the till owing to the illness of the Hon. J. G. lAndereon (Minister of Internal lAffaire) declared ifchat 'he could not accept the amendment. He did not think lit would be an improvement on the existing , law. It would mean a poll to decide -whether the eyetem was to be adopted, end lie was not so sanguine about fhe success of the system as the mover of the amendment. It might, he Bfcid, "work out perfectly well in Christehureih, but not necessarily in other places we can think of. I ask members to stick to the present law." Mr. J. P. "Lake (chairman of the committee -which considered the Bill) said they had a proportional representation amendment, but -knocked it out. Mr. MoComhs said that Christelrarch CHy Council tried to secure power to adopt proportional representation in When the system came into operation it was held to ;be a success by all election experts throughout the world. It gave representation in exact proportion to the -strength of different sections. It was a Reform Government which gave, municipalities the right to adopt the proportional representation in; fact the Reform party was the only party which iiad ever done anything in the matter. Mr. Masaey laughingly accepted the compliment, 'but it did not alter liis hostile attitude. He pointed out that the amendment really related to The iLoral Elections and IPolls Act\ of lftOß. Mr. T. M. Wilford declared tl%t, while fte would willingly vote for the election of Members of /Parliament by proportional representation 'he believed the amendment was foreign to the present bill. Mt. Malcolm (chairman of Committeee) ruled the amendment out of order.