MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION.

Colonist, Volume LV, Issue 13825, 24 September 1913, Page 6

MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION.

—. .og*. [United Press Association.j I Wellington, Sept 23. An adjourned meeting of the Legislative Committee of the Municipal Association of New Zealand was held today to consider the question of'proportional representation. The Mayor (Mi J. P. Luke) who presided, urged thai .the question should bo referred to the Municipal Conference. There was a good deal to be said in favour of the new system of representation. It was better for the Government to bring il into operation, and let the people as a whole' deal with the question. He moved that the question be referred foi favourable consideration to the conference of the Muniicpal Association to be held next year. The .Mayor of Lower Hutt (Mr E. P. Bunny) seconded the motion, but ol> jecteci rather to the term of "favourable consideration. Mr A. H. llindmarsh, M.P., saic that a complicated matter like this must be solved from outside. He doxi'bt ed whether the conference could reallj settle it. If" the adoption of preferen tial voting was made optional, the people would have an opportunity of con sidering whether it was worth while t< adopt it or not. He did not considei there would be much additional expen diture. Mr D. McLaren pointed out that th< proposal was rather more complicatec than a mere question of proportion^ representation. He thought that i the question were made optional fo: proportional representation for coun cillors, and "preferential voting for may ors, they might affirm, the principle and lot tho Municipal Conference tak< sip the main question. He moved a an amendment that tho Christchurc! remit bo supported in reference to pro portional representation in the case o councillors, and preferential voting ii the ' cases of mayors, provided th< scheme be made optional. , This wai carried.