WOMEN CAN HELP

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 647, 26 April 1929, Page 13

WOMEN CAN HELP

MISS BASTEN’S CAMPAIGN ADDRESSES AT AVONDALE Stressing the fact that there wenmany directions in which she, as a woman member of the City Council, had been able to secure small changes, w'hich had been of great help to women generally, Miss Alice Basten addressed electors of Avondale South oil Wednesday evening. Miss Basten said she had secured, for example, the erection of seats in certain of the streets, and had, after much effort, now induced the Parks Committee to recommend the erection of a shelter at the gates of Waikumet*Cemetery. These were perhaps small things, but they were a great help to women. She wished Avondale and Tamaki voters to co-operate in securing the return of each other’s candidates, as neither district had sufficient voting strength, without such co-opera-tion, to ensure the return of even one member. PROPOSED WARD SCHEME Mr. J. W. Kealy, another member of the Council offering himself for reelection, dealt with many local questions affecting the Avondale district, and gave particulars of what had been done by Crs. Copsey, Potter and himself since Avondale’s amalgamation with the city, in connection with transport, roading and footpath construction. Dealing w’ith the question of the electoral system, the candidate strongly advocated a change on the lines of a scheme previously propounded by him. He proposed that the city be divided into nine wards practically following the boundaries of the constituent districts of the city. Each of these wards would elect one member for a two-year term, the remaining 12 councillors being elected (as at present) by the whole city area, but for a four-year term, half retiring in rotation each two years. Under this scheme, electors would vote for only seven candidates at each election, instead of for 21 as at present, while in addition to this advantage, each district would be assured of direct local representation. The danger of parochialism, associated with the ward system as usually proposed, -would be avoided owing to the ward members not being in a majority on the council, while with only seven candidates to vote for, electors would have a much better opportunity of voting for men whose records were known to them. A vote of thanks and confidence in the candidates was carried. The meeting also decided to thank Messrs. E. E. Copsey and H. Potter. Avondale representatives on the counj oil, who were not seeking re-election.