MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17650, 10 December 1920, Page 8

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

PROPOSED CHANGE DEFEATED , ' j r THE PROPORTION At) SYSTEM. fi\ ' • DECISION OF TJffi COUNCIL'. A proposal' that tho system of proportional.: representation should he used at , elections of the Auckland City Council ; wag discussed at a special meeting of the council last evening. Tho Mayor, Mr., J. H. Gunson, presided, and there wero also present; Miss li. Melville, Messrs. G. Knight, Q. R. Hutchinson, P. M. Mackay, W. J. Holdsworth. T. Bloodworth, J. A. 0, Alton, H. N. Bagnall. J. A. Warnock, J. B. Patereon, ' J. Defysey, M. J. Savage,' M.P. -V.. The introduction of the system was moved by Mr. T. Bloodworth, who said that in any department of' the" council services if a more efficient way could he found of , carrying out the. business the council would unanimously adopt it. ~ln the matter ,of the election of the council, if it could be proved there was' a' more efficient method of giving effect to the wishes of the people it should be adopted. He submitted that proportional represen- ; tation . was • such a method. Proportional representation was now being rapidly accepted. • It was a matter on which extremes met, as was evidenced by the fact that it was favoured by • Labour parties | and the House of Lords. i The Christchurch City Council, which used the system at its 1917 elections, and subsequently went back to the old system, had decided to revert to'; proportional representation. The system ensued that all sections of the community should be represented in accordance with their voting power. Mr. Holdsworth seconded the motionHe said he had for many years been dissatisfied with the present system. , Mr. Bagnall said it would be a breach of trust if the council were to change the method of election without consulting the electors. _ : •':■ • .> 7, , r , r' Mr. Savage supported tho motion,; saying that no one could be enthusiastic about the present" system of election. . Miss Melville said had an open mind on the subject, but thought further consideration was needed. She enumerated certain points which she considered were defects, and said the system appeared to disregard tho personal equation, to sacrifice 1 quality to quantity, and to : assume that every person was a hide-bound supporter of party.'. V ~ . I i Mr. .Mackay said obscurity surrounded the proposal arid characterised the. motion as a " missionary effort." . • • The Mayor referred to the fact that in ' 1917 the council's, returning officer, after visiting Christchurch, reported that proportional (representation .locked .. well in theory, but doubtful in • practice, and he generally reported adversely. . The council at that time decided against i the bj'stem. Mr. Guneon referred briefly to aspects :of the- system, which ~he said seemed to be absurd. The council must' liavo reasonable ground for believing the new system would be an improvement, and he considered it was not justified at this stage in making a change. '• The motion was defeated, those voting for it being the' mover and seconder and Mr. Savage. i