THE MUNICIPAL BALLOT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2919, 3 November 1916, Page 9

THE MUNICIPAL BALLOT

CLAIM FOR PROPORTIONAL , REPRESENTATION

discussion' at the city COUNCIL

A deputation consisting of Messrs, T. \V. Kislop and M. J.'lleanlou waited on tho City Council last evening to, urgo upon that body'tho furthor consideration of tho proposal to adopt the proportional representation system ill respect to municipal elections. Mr. Hislop, addressing tho council, said that ho had beon interested in proportional representation for somo forty years, ;viul that tho system liad stood the test ever sinco it was introduced by Mr. Hare, who was backed tip by the loading economists of his period. Ho maintained that if tho system could be applied to Government elections it could be successfully adopted in connection with municipal elections. The questions of its cost had been raised. Ho was surprised to see that ' point raised, and believed that oxporionco would prove it not to bo as costly as was represented. Ho contended that a voter going to tho ballot could put a number opposite each of the sixteen names (the number of council members) just as easily and 1 quickly as ow could write a cross .opposite tho names. • He quoted tho expo, icnce of Denmark and Chile. If tho effect was to have all parts of the community properly and fairly represented they must havo a system that would ensure the desired result, and that could be dono by proportional representation. The Government had been approached, and had made it possible for municipalities to adopt the system. .Ho hoped that the council would reflect the intelligence of the community by taking the lead in this mattor in New Zealand. Mr. M. J. Reardon said that it had been held as an objection that the proposal had como from one section of the community, viz., the working people. That was merely incidental, or rather accidental, as it could just as easily have been tho other way,, about. For instance, some of the leading newspapers in Australia were advocating: the system, because the Commonwealth Senate was simply swamped with Labour members. • The Mayor said that ho had met Mr. Humphreys when he was here, and that gentleman had admitted that there nvere difficulties ; in cases like AVellingon, where there _ were over thirty candidates for sixteen seats. He thanked tho deputation, and said that its representations would be considered. This camo on later, when the Legislation Committee of tho council reported "that it had. given careful consideration to_ tho request of tho Labour Representation. Committee that the council adopt tho provisions or tho Proportional Representation (Local Elections) Act, 1914. The report of tho New Zealand Chief Electoral Officer upon the working of the systeni of proportional representation in Tasmania, which was submitted to the New Zealand Government," said the committee, "was examined, and an inquiry was made to the Cliristohurch City Council. . Tho Returning Officer (Mr. James Ames) reported to the committee on the -matter also. The committee is of opinion that it is not advisable to introduco tho system of proportional representation in the elections of the Wellington City Council." In rising to move tlio adoption of tho report Councillor A. R. Atkinson spoko strongly against the recommendation, and contended that this principle of proportional representation was soientifioally accurate. Ho quoted from Mr. F. W. Mansfield's-report, which, though biased against, the system, testified to its scientific accuracy in that it was the "means of showing tho relative strength of parties. Ho also thought that if the Danes and Chilians could make a success of it, there was no reason why tho most intelligent community in tho world could not do so.

Councillor John Hutcheson 'said that proportional representation was evidently adapted to a party system, and its adoption was to create,parties,that did' not exist at present. Ho admitted that the system might be scientifically accurate, but even so it was on record that it had crcated a deadlock in Tasmania, was applied again to relieve tho deadlock, and with scientific accuracy it created another deadlock. An'eminent authority at Home had said that his great test of these elaborate scientific principles was—would they work ? Hero they had only one electorate, not an electorate here and there where -they could "gerrymander" a candidate out of his seat. It was different _ where they only , had one electorate with 35 or 40 candidates, which would make the system costly, cumbersome, and unwieldy. Then they had two or three other elections on the same day. They could not dictate to tho Harbour Board as to the conditions under which tlie election was conducted, and in regard to tho Hospital and Charitablo Aid Board they were iu .tho same position. It was stated that the system was to bo tried in Christchureh at the next election. Why not wait and see tho result there? Councillor M. l'\ Luckie spoke strongly against the system of proportional representation, and quoted tho newspaper opinions of the system from Tasmania wliioh wero attached to Mr.

Mansfield's report, and which cortainly did not reflect what a simple and easy system; of voting that. some of tho speakers had made it out to bo. Councillor L. M'Kenzie and llio Mayor also voiced their views against proportional representation and iu favour of tho rcjjo'rfc, which was adopted, Councillor Atkinson being tho solo dissentient.