PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16421, 15 January 1919, Page 8

PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION.

CONFERENCE OF OPPONENTS AND SUPPORTERS. In the library at tho City Council Chambers yesterday afternoon a conference was held between certain of the City Councillors opposed to proportional representation and the committee of supporters of the system appointed at the public meeting held last Thursday. The committee was appointed to ask the Mayor to call a public meeting, at which the opponents to the system on the Council could eive their reasons for their opposition. There were present at the conference the Mavor (Mr H. Holland), Crs. A. S. Taylor, A. M. Loasby, J. A. Flesher, H. G Ell, M.P., W. Nicholls, E. Peek, P. R. Climie, J. W. Beanland, and D. G. Sullivan, and Messrs J. J. Dougall, J. McCombs, M.P., J. A. McCullough, A. W. Beaven, J. Keir, and T. W. Reese. Crs. A. S. Taylor and D. G. Sullivan were present as mombers of tho, committee appointed by last week's public meeting. , v , , The Mayor ([who presided) asked the conference if it desired that tho proceedings should be in committee, or whether it desired the reporters to be present. . Mr Dougall, m moving that the proceedings be taken in committee, said that ho did so with no idea of burking publicity, but the committee appointou by Thursday's public meeting had come along with the idea of obviating the holding of a public meeting, and ho thought that they would be able to discuss matters more freely if they went into committee. Mr Beaven seconded the motion, which wob agreed to. After the conference concluded the Mayor to the reporters the following resolution which was arrived, at after the members of the committee appointed by the public meeting had withdrawn :— "That the deputation be informed that the councillors who favour the revocation of the special order adopting proportional representation, are of opinion that no good purpose will be served by their taking part in a public meeting "held under the conditions proposed, and that as the decision of any such meeting would not be an adequate expression of public opinion in regard to the question of proportional representation, they are prepared to support the submission of the matter to the electors at the forthcoming election." . In reply to a question as to the meaning of the final portion of the resolution, Mr Holland stated that the membera of the Council opposed to proportional representation intended to proceed with the confirmation of the resolution rescinding the special order under which the system was adopted. It ig understood that the supporters of "the proportional representation system will now proceed to call a public mooting, and ask the city councillors opposed to the system to attend and explain their attitude towards the system.