XN000022-1990-03-21 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 1990

SIR DAVID SAID THERE WOULD BE NO CHANGE IN THE COMPOSITION OF THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND MUNICIPAL COUNCILS ON THIS OCCASION. THIS WAS NOT A PASSIVE DECISION, HE SAID NOTING THAT ARGUMENTS HAD BEEN ADVANCED IN FAVOUR OF ALTERING THE BALANCE OF MEMBERSHIP IN THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND ALSO IN THE DISTRICT BOARDS.

"WE ACCEPT THAT THESE ARGUMENTS HAVE BEEN WELL MADE. OUR REASON FOR NOT PROCEEDING IS ESSENTIALLY THAT THE CHANGES PROPOSED TO THIS COUNCIL ARE ENOUGH TO DIGEST AT ONE TIME AND THAT CHANGES TO THE MUNICIPAL COUNCILS AND DISTRICT BOARDS AT THE SAME TIME MIGHT DISTRACT FROM THE FIRST DIRECT ELECTIONS TO THIS COUNCIL, SAID.

SIR DAVID

"THUS, FOR THE MOMENT, THEY WILL PRESERVE THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENT BY WHICH ABOUT ONE THIRD OF THEIR MEMBERSHIP IS APPOINTED. HOWEVER, WE WILL REVIEW THE SITUATION AGAIN BEFORE THE 1995 ELECTIONS, WITH A VIEW TO FURTHER CHANGES," HE SAID.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY POINTED OUT THAT MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY IN DUE COURSE TO SCRUTINISE AND DEBATE THE LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD GIVE EFFECT ΤΟ THE ARRANGEMENTS HE HAD OUTLINED TODAY.

"THE LEGISLATION WILL INCLUDE OTHER PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW INCLUDING ELECTION EXPENSES, NOMINATION PROCEDURES AND ELECTION DEPOSITS. I WOULD LIKE TO ASSURE MEMBERS THAT WE ARE CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO SET THEM IN PLACE AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE IN ORDER TO ALLOW THOSE WHO WISH TO STAND FOR ELECTION ADEQUATE TIME TO PREPARE THEMSELVES," SIR DAVID SAID.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY PAID TRIBUTE TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF OMELCO WHO HAD INVOLVED THEMSELVES IN DISCUSSIONS OF THESE ISSUES.

"THEIR ENTHUSIASM IN ENCOURAGING PUBLIC DEBATE ON THE PACE OF CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE AND THEIR PERSONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THAT DEBATE HAVE BEEN OF ENORMOUS ASSISTANCE IN PREPARING THE WAY FORWARD," THE CHIEF SECRETARY SAID.

SIR DAVID SAID THE GOVERNMENT LOOKED FORWARD TO A WARM PUBLIC RESPONSE IN REGISTERING TO VOTE, IN

VOTE, IN PUTTING FORWARD CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION, AND IN TURNING OUT TO VOTE ON THE DAY,' HE SAID.

"

ΤΟ

"AND I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE COUNCIL WHICH CONVENES IN THIS CHAMBER IN OCTOBER 1991 WILL PROVIDE A FIRM FOUNDATION ON WHICH BASE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM, SIR DAVID SAID.

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