THE MUNICIPAL BILL.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10786, 13 October 1900, Page 7

THE MUNICIPAL BILL.

HOW SOME OF ITS PROVISIONS

AFFECT CHRISTCHURCH. One of Jhe alterations made ito the Municipal Corporations Bill by the Legislative Council is the increasing of the number of the members of the Municipal Council for a city of the size of Chxistehurch from ten to twelve members, At present there are fifteen members, which gives three members for eaca -ward. The allocation of twelve members amongst five warda will be a problem not easy of solution, unless«ome alteration is made with respect to the representation of the respective -wards. It is, for instance, pointed out that the Richmond ward, ■with three members, is overrepresented in comparison with other wards. The general rate collected in the Richmond ward is about £300; in other words, there is a councillor for every £100 01 general rate. If the other wards in the city were represented on the same basis there would be about one hundred councillors representing them. A way out of the difficulty may be found by incorporating the Richmond ward in the North-East ward. The polling day for councillors is fixed for the fourth Wednesday in April, and the bour at which, the poll closes has been extended to seven o'clock. This latter provision is looked upon as unnecessary, as the experience of those who have had *to do with municipal elections is that all the votes are practically recorded by half-past five, and tint only stragglers come after and up to six o'clock. Another objection to the txtension is that at that time of the year it is dark sometimes before iix o'clock.