PROPORTIONAL VOTING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1863, 24 September 1913, Page 9

PROPORTIONAL VOTING.

IN CIVIC POLLS. . Proportional representation was dis'cusssd yesterday morning at the adjourned meeting of tho Legislative Committee of tho Municipal Association. Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) presided and others present wero: Mr. E.' P. Bunny (Mayor of Lower Hutt), Mr. A. H. Hindmarsh, M.P.,. Mr. It. Fletcher, and Mr. D. M'Laren. At tho meeting which was held during tho previous week, it had been decided to adjourn consideration of a lotter which received from 'tlio ChristChurch City Co'uncil asking for support to a proposal'for'an amendment of tho Municipal Corporations Bill in the direction of a clause to provide for proportional voting for Mayor and councillors in municipal elections. The proposal made tho scheme for proportional representation optional, and it could bo adopted by special order for two years. Within six months. before tho oxpiration of tho two years tlio 6chcm.o might bo adopted generally by special order. It lvas mentioned that a Bill on tho abovo lines had been introduced with respect to tho election of tho mem.bers of the Lyttelton Harbour Board. , Tho Mayor, who had previously expressed tho opinion that tho question could bo moro suitably dealt with by tho Municipal Conference, adhered to this view yesterday. .He thought that tho right course would bo ■to discuss -it now and forward it' on. As tho Government had a proposal to bring tho system into operation, ho did 'not think that tho committee should formulate a schemo and call upon the Government to make it tho law. Ho moved that tho matter .be re-, ferred to the Municipal Conference for fcvourablo consideration. Mr. Bunny seconded tho Mayor's motion, although he would havo preferred that tho word "favourable" had not been included. -Ho could see no reason for any change in tho present method. Mr. Hindmarsh did not agree that tho matter should 'be hung up until tlio next municipal conferenco. Ho failed to see any objection, in tho schemo being made optional. Mr. M'Larcn wished to alDrm tho (principle of tho scheme being made optional. The main question could, if necessary, bo left to tho conference. Ho believed that proportional representation had been tried with municipal elections in South Africa and had worked without a hitch. He moved as an amendment that tho Government bo asked to insert a clauso in tlio Bill now beforo tlio House making optional tho system of proportional' representation for councillors and preferential voting for Mayfir. Before Mr. Fletcher spoke, tho Mayor read a communication from tlio Mayor of I'almcrston North protesting against any alteration in tho present system, which his council considered was giving every possiblo satisfaction. Mr.. Bunny remarked that lie was entirely in agreement with the Mayor of Paimcrston. Mr. Fletcher pointed ;mt that although some local bodies might bo well satisfied with tho present system others were not. What was proposed in tlio amendment would not forcc any local body to adopt tlio schemo. But in the caso of local bodies who desired a change there could be no possible harm in giving thom the option of proportional representation. Ho seconded tho amendment. '

Mr. M'Laren's amendment was car ricd by 3 votes to 2.