THE WARD SYSTEM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXI, Issue 15210, 22 January 1910, Page 7

THE WARD SYSTEM.

ABOLITION PROPOSALS. OPPOSED IN ST ALBANS. A proposal was made at a meeting of the Christchurch City Council some weeks ago by Councillor 11. J. Otley, that the ward system in Christchurch should be abolished, and at a meeting of the St Albans Burgesses’ Association last evening the proposal was discussed. There were about forty members present, and the president, Air H. E. Morgan, was in the chair. In opening the discussion, Air W. H. Gulliver said that the burgesses of St Albans had extreme difficulty in having their wishes given effect to by the Christchurch City Council. This being the case when they hud two representatives on the City Council, to whom they were entitled to look for sympathy and assistance, the burgesses would bo in an even worse position if the wards were abolished. He moved, that, the Association should enter an emphatic protest against the suggested alteration of the present ward system unless the proposal was submitted to the ratepayers and endorsed by them. The motion was seconded, by Air J. A. Blank, who also opposed the proposal on the ground that it was inadvisable that the burgesses should lose their direct representation on the Council. Councillor G. Hyde said that tha Alayor of Christchurch had definitely expressed his intention of opposing the proposal, as he considered it was a distinct breach of faith with the ratepayers. They had been given to understand on a previous occasion that should any change of the kind bo contemplated, they would be consulted, instead of the question being decided by the Council itself. As a matter of fact, there was no notice of motion before the City Council at all. M’heii he brought up the matter. Councillor Utley asked that the question should be considered at the first meeting of tne Council in January, but. as it was subsequently decided on liis motion that the Council' should not meet again until February 17, his notice of motion was practically thrown out, and ill the speaker’s opinion the Council could not consider the question, again without a further motion. Air T. E. Taylor, ALP., who was present by invitation, said that even at present there was no ward system in Christchurch. As the ward system was followed in Christchurch, it gave the ratepayers only one privilege, that of choosing a certain definite proportion of the City Councillors, h’The original

object of the ward system was to give each ward a separate financial exist- . ence. The right of electing representatives was, ho considered, well worth protecting, though ho bad no doubt that if the wards were abolished, the various sections of the city would indirectly seemo representation. He agreed that the ratepayers were entitled to demand increased representation in proportion to rating value. If the representation were in proportion to the amount of rates contributed to the city’s revenue, St Albans would bo entitled to a third member. Councillor Hyde added that there was a proposal before the City Council that separate accounts should be kept for each ward. . The motion was carried unanimously.