ELECTORAL REFORM

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28958, 28 July 1959, Page 12

ELECTORAL REFORM

General Call For Suggestions

Anyone who has ideas on how to simplify the Christchurch municipal elections —at present electors are confronted with a ballot paper containing at least 40 names for the City Council alone—will have his or her opportunity of advancing them as a result of action taken by Cr. H. P. Smith, cnairman of the City Council's finance committee.

Cr. Smith returned from overseas last year convinced that electoral reform was needed. He proposed to the council that there should be a meeting of representatives of the council and many other organisations to discuss that reform; but the council rejected that proposal in favour of a preliminary meeting of a special subcommittee of councillors.

That meeting was held yesterday, and from it, Cr. Smith said, an invitation will go to all interested organisations to submit their views on electoral reform. “But we don’t want to limit it to organisations.” said Cr. Smith last evening. “Any individual who thinks he has something useful to offer should take this as a personal invitation and get in touch with the Town Clerk.” Cr. Smith listed three main alternatives as a basis for discussion. They were:— (1) A ward or district system (2) Half the council retiring at the end of a fixed term and the other half carrying on. (3) Councillors elected from wards with a number of councillors. say, four, elected from the whole district. The last mentioned system of “councillors at large” was a new one adopted in New Orleans recently, said Cr. Smith. His proposals were made without advancing any particular one. he said. He was sure there was a need for reform end a demand for it. From the suggestions that came from the committee, which included representatives from both sides of the council, the invited organisations and the individuals who cared to contribute, he was sure Christchurch wou'd benefit.