CHRISTCHURCH CITY

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7867, 1 August 1911, Page 5

CHRISTCHURCH CITY

THE MAYORALTY. Mil DOUG-ALL SUCCEEDS MB TAYLOR. PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH; July 31. At 11 special meeting of tlio City Conw cil to-night Air J. J. Dougall, deputy. Mayor, was unanimously elected Mayor. “TRUST THE PEOPLE” METHOD OP ELECTION OBJECTED TO. 1 SPECIAL TO THE "TIMES.'' CHRISTCHURCH, July SI. At tho election of the Mayor to-night a pretest was entered hy tho Labour councillors against tho law which compelled an election under'these circumstances to bo by the council and not by the people. Councillor Hunter said that he considered the provision in the statute, providing thaUihe council should elect the Mayor, was wrong in principle. (Hear, hear.) - The statute provided that the Mayor should bo elected on the popular vote in the first instance, and it was only right that in the case of the decease of the Mayor the new Mayor should also ba elected on the popular vote. Councillor Hart endorsed these remarks. Ho thought it was to be deplored that the City Council should have the power to hold the election over the head* of the people. Councillor Millar also added Ms protest against the process of election which was imposed on them by statute. He believed that this 'fossilised lew should be amended. They should trust , the people to carry out the election, and tho more they trusted tho people tho better would those elected perform their duty. .Councillor W. R. Smith also protested against the system of election. The machinery should bo put in motion to alter tbo eiristiag law, which made compulsory a mo;t undemocratic procedure. ■ All tho Laborr councillors supported Councillor J. J. Dougall, who was unanimously' elected.