BOROUGH WARD SYSTEM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7720, 24 January 1905, Page 2

BOROUGH WARD SYSTEM.

PROPOSED ABOLITION, Ratepayers' Opinion to be Taken. | A special meeting of the lloro-.'gh Council was held on Monday evening, previous to the ordinary meeting, to consider the' question of the abolition of the ward system. ! The town clerk submitted a formal resolution as required by the act, in it was proposed thuFTlie al" teratsfliii should take effect oiF "April 25th*iiext. ■?. .■ --. - Ths."'ftlayor stated that th* matter had previously been before the council. nniL was open for discussion. i Cr. Brooking moved the adoption ol' tl;e resolution as read. lie was of opinion that the proposal would be beneficial to the borough as a I whole. (Jr. Fruser, in seconding tlie mo- , ion, deprecated the silence of members when important subjects Here brought forward, and considered that there was something wrong in the constitution of the council when things were allowed to drift as they had done, lie intimated that he would not remain on the council and I see it drifting into bankruptcy. I | Cr. Collis advocated tile question ' being submitted to a vote of ratepayers, and he moved that a public meet/ing be convened; for the purpose. I Cs. Ahier thought it was unfair to •spring such a motion on Ihe council so close upon an election, lie had nscortttiilwl thivt tlioro wtis considerable opposition to tile proposal on the part of the ratepayers. I Cr. Wood supported the motion. I Cr. Wilson was ol opinion that the ratepayers' would have a better choice if the ward system were abolished. He mention that none of the three members for the west ward resided in 'that ward. I The Mayor pointed out that the question was by no .means a new one. The proposed change had advantages, and curtailed expenses, as only one roll instead of three would be .necessary. Me would have supported the motion but for hearing from councillors that the ratepayers objected to the change, and he sug- , gested that the motion should be withdrawn in favour of the amendment. The town clerk pointed out that if the motion were notf passed at that meeting it would lie too late to take effect for the coining election. I At the suggestion of lithe Mayor Cr. Collis withdrew hi.s amendment, pending the vote on Ihe motion, which was then put and carried by six votes to four—Aves : The .Mayor, Crs. Wood, Wilson, Brooking, Fraser, ltrowne ; noes : Crs. Cliff, Collis, Ahier, and Medley. | Cr. Collis then moved lliat a pub;ic meeting of ratepayers be convened to consider the question before t'he council definitely decides upon it. | The motion was seconded .by Cr. Ahier and carried.