THE MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21707, 14 February 1936, Page 14

THE MUNICIPAL FRANCHISE

Use of Projperiy [Votes

AMETOMENT OF LAW PROBABLE

It is- considered more than - possible that the municipal by-election to be held in Christchurch > fiext month'tor the Mayoralty and three seats dh’tfaC City Council will be the lasCpenmitting; plutal voting, under the ‘ privileges ‘ extended to property owners. Last September, when the Labour party .was in opposition, spirited protests were made in the House of Representatives by Labour members, particularly the new Minister for Public Works, the' Hori. H. Semple, against the section of* the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Act, 1926, which gave property owners th,e, right to exercise what Labour members termed “brick* • and mortar” votes,. Legislation repealing, this privilege is expected to be, carried out . by, the pew Government early in the session, and when it is remembered that the proposal to repeal these privileges was last year put forward by Mr Semple, and supported by the Prime Minister, the Hon. M. J. Savage, the Hon. _ D. G. Sullivan and the Hon. F. Langstone, it is considered unlikely'that the act will not in the near future be repealed. The liy-electibh* however, Will be held oh Wednesday, March 11. The exact date of? the opening of the first session of Parliament has not yet been announced by Mr Savage, but it is certain that it will not be until -after * - Mareh ,5, - and- - it. is thought hot ‘ likely . that repealing legislation could Tbe put through before* the date of the election. The rolls will close on February 26. Enquiries made yesterday revealed that it is difficult to find exactly how big a part these property votes play- in the election, or how numerous they are. Such a conjecture could only be made from ballot papers,- it is stated, but it is considered, by members Of the Labour party ki particular; that they form a proportion which, could materially effect any fairly closely contested poll; ■ '