DANGERS OF CAUCUS RULE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 98, 28 April 1938, Page 12

DANGERS OF CAUCUS RULE.

Women Candidates at

Remuera Meeting.

In addressing a meeting of women electors of the Remuera district in the Tudor Theatre lounge yesterday afternoon, three speakers, Dr. Hilda Northcroft, Miss Ellen Melville and Mrs. A. M. McNair, all stressed the danger of caucus rule in the administration of the affairs of the city. The speakers are candidates at the forthcoming municipal elections. Dr. Northcroft is a candidate for the Auckland Hospital Board, and Mrs. McNair and Miss Melville for the Auckland City Council.

The danger of the Labour party holding a majority on any local body, said Dr. Northcroft, lay in the fact that Labour members were not allowed to vote on city matters as individuals, but were compelled to vote as the Labour caucus instructed them. The City Council, and in a lesser way the other Auckland local bodies, were managed by a secret body not elected by the people. This, in Dr. Northcroft's opinion, was not in the best interests of the city in

general,

In making reference to the Hospital Board, Dr. Northcroft said that the present board was not guided by commonsense in its decisions. She spoke of the Hospital Board's erection of what was to have "been a fever ward and which prior to its completion was changed to an orthopaedic ward, where the patients were a considerable distance from the required massage and electrical treatments.

Miss Melville pointed out the importance of a truly representative body of citizens to manage the city affairs for the next three years during which the centenary celebrations will occur. Miss Melville, who is at present a member of the City Council, is standing for re-elec-tion.

"We have also a right to demand that the 'business of the city is carried on in open council," she continued. "Every member should be free to vote which ever way he or she wishes. It is because we have not got that type of government that I am opposed to Labour control in the City Council."

The fact that party politics should not interfere in local government was emphasised toy Mrs. McNair, who commended to her audience the candidates selected by the Auckland Citizens and Ratepayers' Association. Mrs. McNair emphasised the trouble caused by the apathy of the voters. She also referred to the centenary.