THE CIVIC LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 1, 1 July 1925, Page 11

THE CIVIC LEAGUE

CONFERENCE OF MEMBERS

OBJECTS OF ORGANISATION

' "VERY LITTLE WRONG AFTER ALL."

A general conference of members of the Civic League and delegate! from representative associations wai held in the Accountants' Hall, Johnston street. The president of the league, Mr. Lan Duncan, was in the chair, and there was a good and representative attendance. The chairlnan, in his opening remarks, explained the reason for calling the conference. He stated that the league had suffered much criticism before and after the election!!. The friends of those candidates who had been rejected considered that the league had shown poor judg-. ment in the candidates, that had been selected and returned. Personally,. he considered that *he league waa a thoroughly capable body of men, and practically every district in Wellington wm represented in its members. It was for those present to point out and correct any shortcomings. Any suggestion would have the careful consideration of ■ the executive. The matters open for discussion that evening were:—(l) Civic organisation, defects-and improvements;■ (2) municipal elections,, policy, and methods; (3) electoral law and administration; (4) questions of finance; (5) enrolment of personal services. Before proceeding" with the general discussion, the secretary, Mr. D. M'Laren, explained the position of the league. It was, he said, a young organisation, and was formed on 17th August, 1921, with Mr. G.Mitchell as its.first president. The league commenced without any funds, and relied on its finances from individual contributions and subscriptions from branch associations. Its finances were now in,, a very sound condition. It had taken part in two elections and one by-election 'Since its inception. In the 1923 election 31 candidates out of 3* included oh its ticket were returned, the candidate supported by the by-elec-tion was returned, and in the last election in April this year 28 candidates out of 34 candidates on the ticket were successful in securing election. The league had alto taken part in a good many public movements, and the speaker instanced £1500 that had. been, raised for the unemployment fund. APATHY OF CITIZENS. '' It was a definitely affirmed "non-party organisation, and the declaration in its constitution was sufficient proof of its loyaltyl Any citizen of good character could join the league on conforming to its rules' and subscriptions. The chief weakness was its individual membership, and the apathy of citizens generally in this respect was regrettable. ' Debate then ensued and numerous suggestions introduced by members were actively discussed. [. The suggestions that found favour and were noted for further consideration by the executive were:— (1) The appointment of an organiser to do the outside work and attend the meetings of branch, associations and advise generally; (2) a delegate from the league to visit branch associations at least once a year and report on the work of Hie league; (3) the legality of th« ' use of cards and streamers to be placed beyond all doubt; (i) all prospective non-party candidates to be consulted on a plan to be agreed upon; (5) a women's branch of the league to be formed, and to asist in the organisation, of the various districts during elections; (6) that enrolment, forms should be supplied by the City Council to every resident in the city, and it should not" be left to the individual to make a personal application for enrolment; (7) every individual n?.aking application for enrolment should receive an acknowledgment; (8) on the revision of the rolls the persons whose names have been deleted should be notified; (9) the scrutiny of rolls voted upon should be carried out after every election. At present there is no guarantee that a voter has not recorded in two or three booths; (10) candidates should be notified where the. votes are being counted; (11) the voting should be by striking out the names of, cahdi3atc;3. not required, as in voting in the Parliamentary elections. Thia would .avoid \ the confusion that exists in,the present council system, where either way is'used; (1) amendment of the law to prevent the publication of a 1 candidate's name on any ticket* without his or her consent; (13) the question of a system, of preferential voting to be applied in the Mayoral contest; J l*) P roT«jon to be made for patients in hospitals and similar institutions to record their votes, and also the nursing staffs of these institutions. At present they are disfranchised. A VERY USEFUL OBGANISATION. In reviewing the criticism and sumjettions offered, Mr. IV Gray, vice-presi-dent, considered there was very little wrong with the Civic League after all. In tho matter of finance, the league had a finance committee that would raise any sum that was necessary. He was in agreement with Mr. K. L. Jones that the selection committee should commence its work early, before any candidates had entered the field and thereby committed themselves. The league should be, and was, a. very .useful organisation to the community. It helped to keep the civic body alive. If only the party system could be abolished and the extreme Labour section induced to work with the league, all sections of the community would be represented. It was . deplorable that so many ratepayers had been struck off the municipal roll, and it must be remedied, if the league had to. °r£ an, u« intensively it could do so with little more expense. Its main object was to; have ? pc o P le'g council, and give helpful criticism to the City Counconsulted with candidates and framed" election principles." , The most difficult problem, "the housing question," had been considered by the league, and its recommendation that the most, practical men should be appointed to^that committee, men like Councillors G. A. Tronp, W.'h. Bennett? and B. Semple, had evidently been effective. These councillors were members of the committee that had been appointed, and they.were tackling the problem thoroughly and efficiently.- , Mr. Phil Myars considered that citizens wem greatly indebted to councillors and members of other local bodies and organisations for the great amount of ! work performed by them in an honorary capacity. Citizens should be a, little more considerate and assist the council with helpful suggestions from time to time, instead .of indulging in nnfaij, criticism. ■ A very successful meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair.