MUNICIPAL REDISTRIBUTION.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 8271, 23 November 1895, Page 6

MUNICIPAL REDISTRIBUTION.

We believe there is a motion before the City Council for the re-adjustment of the boundaries of the different Wards, so that the representation may bear some fair proportion to the population and revenue. Tho unfairnes* of the present boundaries is very evident when the figures are given. Thus the valuation of the various Wards for the year 1894-5, leaving out odd pounds, is as follows ; —■ North-east Ward ... £41 500 South-east Ward ... 70,100 South west Ward ... 36,100 North-weafc Ward ... 39,500 Richmond Ward ... 6,500 The disproportion between Richmond and any of the other wards is quite as great if population be the basis instead of value of rateable property. But Richmond has precisely the same representation as each of the other wards. There are fifteen members of the City Council of Christchurcb, three for each of the five wards. The revenue of the four Christchurch Wards is about £9800. The revenue of the Richmond Ward is about £800. That is to say, Christchurch proper has one representative for every £800 of rates paid. Richmond has one representative for every £100 of rates paid. If Councillor Widdowson should be elected Mayor Richmond will practically be given two more votes in the City Council. The fact that Richmond is already so over-represenfced in the Council is an adequate reason for postponing Councillor Widdowson's occupancy of the Mayoral Chair until the boundaries of the wards have been readjusted. It is gratifying that the Mayoral election should produce a contest between two citizens so well qualified in their several degrees to serve the public as Councillors Beswick and Widdowson. Both have the advantage of youth and good character, and both, we have no doubt, are capable of discharging the duties of the office with credit to themselves and satisfaction to the public. As the Legislature has deliberately provided that the Council shall have no voice in the election of Mayor, but that it shall be the right and privilege of the ratepayers to elect the Mayor direct, there is nothing in the contention that the candidate who has bsen longest in the Council has any prior claim upon the ratepayers, other thingg being equal. We trust, therefore, that Councillor Widdowson's Mayoralty will be deferred until tho representation oJ tho ratepayers is readjusted.