CITY COUNCIL VACANCY

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 1, 1 July 1926, Page 11

CITY COUNCIL VACANCY

CIVIC LEAGUE'S DECISION

ELECTION A NEEDLESS WASTE,

A well-attended meeting of the Civic Leaguo Executive was held to consider the matter of the vacancy which has arisen on the City Council by the resignation of Councillor Monteith, the subject having been previously referred to the executive by the General Council of the league. The president, Mr. J. H. Whittaker, occupied the chair, and he invited everyone present to express themselves freely on, the position. Some members unavoidably absent had expressed their views through the secretary, who reported same to the meeting. After each and. every member had voiced their opinion on the questions incidental to the situation, it was unanimously resolved to take no official action in connection with tho projected election. It was further decided to make a public statement through the Press, this course being unanimously concurred in by thoso present, and also by the members absent who had forwarded their views on tho subject. The statement of tho executive is as follows:—

NO ELECTION WAS NECESSARY,

, The view taken by this executive is that the calling for an election at this i time was quite unnecessary, and can serve no good purpose as far as the interests of tho city are concerned. It is a nocdless waste of public money which is forced upon the community by actions which wero not called for by the general body of the citizens. As it is a quite common practice that under special circumstances a member of a public body is given leave of absence for periods up to as long as six months, there is no reason why Councillor Monteith could not have retained his seat. Even if the seat were left vacant for a few months it would not bo to the detriment of the city, as there still remains a sufficient number to carry on tho business of the community. Tho situation is. different to that of a Parliamentary vacancy occurring, whereby an electorate is left without representation. It is not at all likely that whoever may bo elected as a successor i Mr. Monteith will at all change the policy or administration of the Corporation during the remainder of the term the present council has to hold office.

THE NEXT ON THE LIST,

Evon if it was necessary to fill the vacancy on the council by tho exercise of reason and forbearance a better method can be found than in putting the city to the expense of paying for another election. This can be achieved by the individual citizens who aro putting forward candidates agrooing—in tho city's interest—that the no_t available on tho list atthe last election shall bo nominated and returned without opposition. This method is applied in respect to vacancies on hospital boards under legal sanction. It is a reasonable plan to take tho next highest on tho list of candidates who stood at last olection and so 3avo the cost to the city of another contest.-

Up till tho present four names have been mentioned asprobablo candidates. What is notable is that no issue is made public as to tho ground for a contost. The sole question, apparently, is to fill a vacancy which can be filled without an election. In such circumstance the league's executive cannot sco that the league would in any way advance the city's interest by taking part in the election. It does not recognise that any political party has a right in respect to representation, and at the same time is not disposed to enter into a contest on the ground of a counterparty movement. The league is entirely opposed to party intrusion in municipal affairs. Unless some issuo is raised of moro consequence than the mere desire for preferment, it is considered that the election will bo a quite useless contost and tho responsibility must rest upon those who have seen fit to force the needless cost which is entailed. The league is nominating no ono on this occasion, but urges the adoption of tho reasonable course of taking tho next available voted for at last election.