Local Bodies Perturbed By Apathy Of Voters

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28422, 31 October 1957, Page 16

Local Bodies Perturbed By Apathy Of Voters

(New Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, October 30. “Week-end polling has proved a farce. There is only one thing to do—get back to Wednesday voting and if that is a failure, put a keg in one corner and a T.A.B. in the other and you will get everyone voting.’’ This contribution to a discussion on voting at local body elections was made by Mr F. G. Briggs (Lyttelton Borough) at the annual conference of the South Island Local Bodies’ Association today. A remit from the Nelson-Marl-borough-West Coast League of Local Bodies stated that the small percentage of those on the roll exercising their vote at local body elections was disquieting. The subject was brought forward so that measures would, perhaps, be suggested for stimulating the response “hs democratic government hinges on the exercise of the franchise.’’

Mr E. P. Meachem (Blenheim Borough) said a compulsory vote would not provide the answer but something had to be done.

Mr W. P. Glue (Christchurch City) said when a council was elected there were “any amount’’ of people quite prepared to tell its members what to do, but they were not prepared to go along to vote.

Mr L. Christie (Christchurch City) said that in Christchurch, only 40 per cent, of the people on the roll voted at the last municipal elections. He did not favour extending the time for voting from one day as was suggested by Mr N. E. Clemens (Grey mouth Borough). Even if there was voting for a week fewer people would vote than when it was con'centrated in one day. Long Lists of Candidates Mr Christie referred to the confusion which came about when in a city like Christchurch, there were about 45 names on the voting papers and many of the elderly people were so confused that they did not want to vote. Mr E. Longworth (St. Kilda Borough) said people who did not vote should be made to apply again to be listed on the roll.

Mr M. Wallace (Westland County) suggested that the elections be conducted by postal vote. A prepaid envelope with voting paper could be supplied to voters and if they did not vote they could be deprived of the right. Mr A. Edwards (Southland County) said three local body elections ago his county’s poll was a little more than 9 per cent. The names of those who did not vote were purged from the roll and wives of landowners and ratepayers in the main discovered they had no vote. They inquired and found their names had been struck off the roll. For the last election, the numbers who voted had risen to 20 per cent. In reply, Mr Meachem said Saturday was not a particularly good day to hold local body elections because there were other attractions. Perhaps some effort could be made to revert to Wednesday with compulsory closing for a period to allow employees to vote.