Disagreement over ward system

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33049, 17 October 1972, Page 1

Disagreement over ward system

A ward system of representation was approved by the Christchurch City Council last evening, but Citizens’ Association councillors declined, as a matter of principle, to take part in the work of a committee to decide the ward boundaries.

“We feel it is a matter of principle,” Cr H. G. Hay said. “We feel the matter should be determined independently.”

The boundaries should be fixed by an entirely impartial authority, Cr M. R. Carter said. “I don’t see how I as an individual could sit on a committee and fix the boundaries of a ward in which I might be contemplating standing.”

Cr D. R. Dowell had moved that a sub-committee comprising Cr R. M. Macfarlane, himself and a representative of the Citizens’ Association councillors be appointed to decide the boundaries of the wards, describe them and nominate the number of representatives for each. After the stand of the Citizens’ councillors, Cr Dowell amended his motion so that the committee would consist of Cr Macfarlane, W. Massey and himself, with Cr Macfarlane as chairman; and this was carried.

“I am disappointed that the opposition has not seen fit to sit on the committee,” the Mayor (Mr N. G. Pickering) said. Five wards The council will now take the necessary steps under the Municipal Corporations Act to have the city divided into five wards, the maximum permissible number. Four of the wards will elect four councillors each and the fifth three councillors. The Citizens’ Association’s policy at the last two elections had been to have a ward system, but not until

after a major reform of metropolitan boundaries, Cr Hay said. That would be an appropriate time to introduce ward voting; it would be premature to make a change before then.

Christchurch was awaiting a final scheme of the Local Government Commission and there would be significant changes if and when areas were brought into the city that would require an adjustment of wards. “This is a major change and there has not been nearly enough research into it,” Cr Hay said. All aspects He proposed an independent committee of inquiry under the chairmanship of a person of magisterial status to examine the desirability and all aspects of a ward system and to hear evidence in public from all interested parties. “In the event of the council then deciding to adopt such a system after consideration of the report of the committee, determination of the boundaries of the wards should become the responsibility of the same independent committee,” said Mr Hay’s proposal, made as an amendment to the finance committee’s recommendation. Cr Hay’s amendment was lost, with voting on party lines. “We won the election and we intend as far as we possibly can to put every aspect of our policy into operation,” Cr Macfarlane said.

Amalgamation could not possibly take place between now and the next local body elections.

Simpler voting A ward system was more democratic and led to simplified voting, Cr Macfarlane said. In the past there had been up to 52 names on a ballot paper for the council. With ward representation electors would have only three or four persons to elect from a list of 10 or 12 names. “If we have a ward system 0.K.,” Cr P. J. Skellerup said. “But if the electors can’t choose from 40, how can they choose from 10? Either they take an interest in local body politics or they

don’t. The danger I see is people siding up with one another, and. then we get back to the old village pump politics;”

A closer examination of whether it was better to have representation from wards or from the city as a whole was favoured by Cr N. F. Greenslade. A ward system where representatives were pushing for their wards’ benefits invited pressure groups, party politics apd the more undesirable aspects of local body work, whereas the present system, although imperfect, discouraged them. It was illogical to talk of a ward system when there was amalgamation, when Christchurch city was already the largest metropolitan local body in New Zealand, Cr D. F. Caygill. said. A simple change .was being made in voting procedure.

Election mandate A ward system would be a miniature of the Parliamentary system, Cr M. McG. Clark said. Cr Hay: They have an independent body to decide boundaries. “I have never known anyone associated with the Tory Party consider themselves bound by their mandate when elected," the Mayor said. “We carry out our promises.” The Labour Party’s first policy point a year ago was to have a ward system of representation on a population basis before the next elections in 1974.

There would be no separate finance system for wards, so he could not see that there would Be any more parochialism, nor would elected cquncilJprs.be less, responsible. .