THE MUNICIPAL WARD SYSTEM.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13233, 29 September 1908, Page 7

THE MUNICIPAL WARD SYSTEM.

ABOLITION PROPOSED

A n'oposal far tho'-abolition of iho ward system was in*do at the City Council meeting last night during a discussion on a nwtwn relative to the appointment of an extra councillor for St. Albaiss, Pursuant to notico, Cr. Williams moved-—-''That 'the question of t,tae rc- \ presentation, of the dilfcruat warnj tx :ieit .to tno Departniojital Coiumuto* I with a vuny to ascertaining xviitther I Ht. Albatfs is entitled to acuther leeuitj«r" Vt. \v lliiaiiis stua wiiit rtto populatioa of bt. -Uoaiis bad of late UK-rcsaspd very greatly. Ttie- opesutng up ox taie t|Ut*,tiou as it St. Albans wcutcl coa&KleratiQn or all the other w&rtfs. Cγ. Hyde eocerakxl the motion. • Cr. iiojs-loysaiti ho woirki liKe to sec the"R*ard atoliisiicd. Cγ. Otiey said tljo tiuio had arrived whtrn tlio ward system oould with ndrantugc be aboli&n«d. iio cO!sßki«M*<.l that ii:o wlwyk l of th« ropresentativca ■or' the tiity should be ekctod i'roni <u\e> wntm, anil every ratepayer slionld tlw> right to voto'tor any candidate. The nt-at*t«r would have to b* gono into or later, und advaniagt» could be wvken. of the prosont opportunity to got the coni.untt«© to go into Ui-e question amd report to the Council. Jbie did iK>t tiiiuk th«-r«. •n-erv any insuporailo ditiicuittee in, tho way of tl» abclifcioii of tho wajxl eystcni. lio would inovo an ameajidnuwt tliat th<& ocmnutteo should tako tli-y nva-ttox into oonsideration. Ho folt quito sure thut tJio ratepayere would approro of tiat proposal. (;r. Hytle: Better go back to tho old sfystpm of boTOUgli oouncils.

Cγ. Otley: RidiciUous. \ Or. Hoisley seconded the amendment. Ho said that* since he had b«?n on tho Gauaictt all tsio that had taken place had been due to orw> ward being; pittcxi ngauilnst tiho other. If it wax© possible to get rid of that it would bo a good thimg lor tlio city. ■■' ■ The Mayor eaid h» could not accept the amendment for it opened up mi entirely distinct queeticra, and sboiiUl be enibadwd in am independent motion. Or. Forrester said lie would bo op* posod entirely to any proposal for tno abolition of thus ward 'system. Cr. Morris said tlia,t St. Albnriß could only be givon aaiotther member at tih© expense vi eurnw vtlior ward unless number of tho Coiuicil were increased. Cr: Cooper coffisidored tho matter was one for a new Council to <I«il with, not on© about to go out of office. Cr. Williams saod hie intention, vas only to havo the matter referred to tfao committee The motion was tihcm put, and lost on fhf voice* Cr. Otky then moved—."That; the J>«partmjcrat«l Committee bo requested to considtar tlvo question whether it is desirable to abolish, the ward system " Cr.'Hjd© said he would movo an anwaidment tihat tiho Depaitniental Committee should consider tlse qwestcon whewer it irtMild not bo better to go back to the old borough council system. The Mayor ruJtad tStat ihat was not a legitimate ameaJmetrt. The question was outside the function of th& Otnrra&l, and should be raised by tho residents of ihe outeido wank if they so desired. Cr.. Williams suggested tlrat tii© matter sJiould bo lot* to iiho incoming eommatteo to decide. Cr. Sorensen agroed with thai suggestiosn. Personally, ho was in favour of the abolition of the wajxl systcro. Cr. Forrester said the matter should be loft to the ratepayers to deoidio. Had the abolition of the -ward system been proposed, tho nmalgaimationi soJieme would never ha.ro been agreed to. Th© motion was iihen put, and lost by B,to 7.