LOCAL ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19918, 3 May 1930, Page 15

LOCAL ELECTIONS.

OPTIONAL METHOD OP VOTING DESIRED. % ' < (PJIESS iSBOCIlTIOK" TILIGBAH.) WELLINGTON, May 2. Legislation providing for an optional method of voting at loeal body elections was sought by a deputation from the executive of the 'Municipal Assoctation which waited ou the Minister for Internal Affairs (the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle) to-day. The Mayor of Wangauui (Mr W. J. Rogers) said that at present it was mandatory to strike out the names of the candidates for whom the elector did not wish to vote, and this in the larger centres had beeii found difficult. The executive now asked for an alteration in- the law to enable local to give the electors the option of Voting either by means of the cros? against a name :or , by striking a. line through them. ;

The Minister: Don't you think tfco most simple method is to • score out- the name of the person you don't desire? The cross leads to confusion. Mr Sogers: It is a matter of opinion, and it all depends upon the method you are used to.

The Mayor of Wellington (Mr G. A. Troup) said it was in the counting of the votes that the real difficulty occurred, particularly with the larger local bodies.

Mr J. CShea (City Solicitor at Wellington) said the Auckland City Council had: asked for the provision. _ , The Minister promised to look into the matter.