MUNICIPAL ELECTION

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 February 1947, Page 2

MUNICIPAL ELECTION

SUGGESTED REVERSION TO WARD SYSTEM ‘•PREMIUM ON INTRIGUE” (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. This Day. He had not heard any suggestion that municipal elections should revert to the ward basis discussed in Labour circles, said the chairman of the North Canterbury Labour Representation Committee (Mr. J. Roberts) when his attention was drawn to a statement by Mr. R. A. Wright, Wellington. that the Government was contemplating legislation to this effect. Mr. Roberts said he could not comment on the merits of the ward system until he had had time to consider the question. It was likely that the ward system would be to the benefit of Labour, but that was not the point, which was whether it was better to elect some councillors from each ward or all councillors in agroup from the whole city. A reversion to the ward system was strongly opposed by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr. E. H. Andrews), who said he had had experience of it in Christchurch. It had led to undesirable bargaining among councillors. Christchurch was one big city with common interests. Mr. Andrews also opposed the suggestion that the mayor should be elected by the councillors. A mayor was very much more than the chairman of the council, and he served all the people regardless of politics, creed, or colour. He thought election of the mayor by the council would put a premium on intrigue.

“LABOUR PARTY TRYING TO GAIN CONTROL” (P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Mayor of Wellington, JMii'. Appleton, said to-day that the legislation dealing with local body elections was introduced in the dying hours of the last session without prior consultation ■ with the Municipal Association or 'the Counties’ Association, though conferences with the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry, had been held just before the introduction of the legislation, which came as a complete surprise to local bodies and was introduced too late to enable adequate representations to be made. “It is apparent to me that the Labour Party, having been badly defeated at the municipal and local body elections in the past, is now trying to gain • control by other methods,” said Mr. Appleton. “Personally I have no knowledge of the move reported by Mr. Wright, that the old ward system might be reintroduced, but no doubt the Government will make an announcement of its intentions. We do not, however, want to see a repetition of what took place last year and I will not forget to bring the matter before the Municipal. Conference in Rotorua in the first week in March?’