The Irish standard., 1919-04-26
Irish Council Bill Before Parliament
Proportional Representation System UrgedS Carson
Threatens To Become Home

The local Government Qreland)
Bill, which proposes that all future
council elections shall take place I'M
der the Proportional Representation
system was read a second time in the
House of Commons Friday night, by
10 votes to 81, after lengthy de-
bate, in the course Of which Sir Ed.
ward Carson, joining with the protest
made against it by other Ulster I'm
ionist members, threatened, amidst
laughter that If this sort Of thing
went on he would beg one Of these
days. to be Home Ruler.
Mr.. Samuels, who had charge Of the
measure, said the existing system Of
election caused widespread dissatis-
faction, and the Government had de.
cided that the new elections for bod
les under the present Local Govern
ment Act should be conducted on the
principle of Proportional Representa-
ton each elector having one transfer
able vote. The proposal had been well
coined almost universally by the Irish
Press, and there was no formidable
opposition. He instanced the success
of the system in the recent Sligo Cor
poration election, well-balanced, prac-
tical men having been returned.
It was proposed to reduce r. D.
Councils by half. Under the existing
system the general body of electors
had no interest in checking the rates,
and extravagant administration re-
suited. In Dublin the rates in 1914
were 49,; now they were to be 16s.
10d. 1t was important to have men Of
commercial interests taking part In
the administration, and the best local
bodies who would have to deal with
millions of the ratepayers' money I'M
der the new duties to be imposed up
on them in regard to housing, santa
ton, and health. He did not see why
Ireland should wait on England or
Scotland in adopting the new progress
sive system. He would like to see
Ireland in the front, and the system
would enable her to express her real
opinions free from fear. The existing
electoral areas would not be too much
interfered with by the l.. G. Board.
It was desirable that the election
should take place after the new reg.
lister of next October, and not held ov.
er till June, 1920.
Preparing for Sim Feln.
Power was given to the L. g. B. to
appoint persons to discharge the du.
ties Of the councils, as It has become
necessary to be prepared for any at.
tempt to make local government i'm.
possible.
Major O'Neill moved an amend
ment declining to proceed with the
Bill as It set up a principle different
from that which prevailed in Great
Britain. On every occasion on which
the proportional representation prin-
ciple was introduced in the last Par
lament It was defeated. In theory It
was excellent, but in practice 1t had
proved unsuccessful. He did not
know whether the present Sligo nun.
icipal body was any better than the
former, but Sligo was an isolated In
stance.
II it had been success there that
was absolutely no ground for impos-
ing the principle in the sweeping man
ner proposed. The electors Of Sligo
were consulted before it was adopt
ed by means of private Bill, which
was very difficult. The whole thing
was an experiment and, in his opin.
ion, It was particularly unsuitable for
the election of loyal bodies. His OBJ
lection would be largely removed II
the Bill were applied to the whole Of
the United Kingdom. He saw no rea'
son why the North Of Ireland should
be subjected to such dinerential
treatment. It had been the consist
ent policy Of the Government to leave
Ireland out of all beneficial legislation
which had been passed for the United
Kingdom, and It was against that pol.
icy the Ulster Unionist members de
sired to enter their emphatic protest
It was proposed to introduce the prin
ciple into the Bill as to which they
had never been consulted. They in
the North did not wish to be dragged
at the heels Of those presumably in
the South who wanted 1t. The only
possible reason for its introduction
must be that It was intended in some
WY to prevent the Co. Councils in
tie South and West being carried by
the Slim Eein party. But the Irish