CIVIC AFFAIRS DISCUSSED.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20919, 28 July 1933, Page 12

CIVIC AFFAIRS DISCUSSED.

CITIZENS' ASSOCIATION'S ANNUAL MEETING. PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. Various aspects of civic government were discussed at the annual meeting of the Christchurch Citizens' Association, which was held last night in the Chamber of Commerce Hall. The president (Mr H. D. Acland) took the chair, and there was a good attendance. In his presidential address, which is reported elsewhere, Mr Acland emphasised the necessity for ratepayers to continue their support of the association. "I cannot help pointing out," he said, "that many ratepayers have for years shirked their responsibility in this respect and left it to members of this association to fight their battles and endeavour to protect their interests." Moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, which have already been published, the chairman of the general committee (Mr S. G. Holland) said that the year's work had been particularly useful and busy. The Drainage Board elections had been held last January, and four of the association's five candidates had been successful. The whole of the ticket for the Waimakariri River Trust had been elected unopposed. Proportional Representation. Although no nomination had been made for the Christchurch mayoralty the ticket for the City Council had been the strongest for some years. This election had been conducted under proportional representation, which undoubtedly gave candidates an enormous alphabetical advantage. He thought the system also encouraged the splitting of the citizens into sections, which was undesirable. In conclusion he praised the work of the secretary (Mr S. F. Marshall) and thanked members for their co-operation. The motion was seconded by Miss M. Trent, representing the women's auxiliary. The women members, she said, hoped to have street lighting improved as a protection for women and children. They were also trying to form sub-committees in the outlying districts, largely for the education of electors. She also commended Mr Marshall's work. Mr T. Milliken attacked the system of proportional representation, which, he said, gave an unfair advantage to those whose names were high in the alphabet. Fourteen of the 16 members of the present council had the initials of their surnames in the first half of the alphabet. The report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted. Election of Officers. The election of officers resulted:— President, Mr H. D. Acland; vicepresidents, Messrs W. H. Clark, Norton Francis, J. H. Rhodes, H. J. Otley, W. Hayward, G. T. Booth, A. F. Carey, A. W. Beaven, W. J. Sim, H. Holland, M.P., and A. McKellar; honorary treasurer, Mr J. O. Jameson; honorary auditor, Mr J. W. K. Lawrence; general committee (40 seats, 20 vacanies annually), Messrs E. H. Andrews, F. W. Freeman, C. E. Jones, M. E. Lyons, A. Manhire, W. E. Olds, D. Rowse, A. J. Parlane, A. J. Scott, C. H. Burson, J. K. Moloney, T. Milliken, C. Miln, F. L. Hutchinson, H. G. Livingstone, C. Ogilvie, H. C. Hurst, W. Thomson, J. Hutchinson, and E. W. Cuddon.