CHANGES IN BILL

Press, Volume C, Issue 29588, 10 August 1961, Page 14

CHANGES IN BILL

Local Body Polls iN2. Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 0. Sweeping powers to vary present local election and polls procedures have been removed from the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Eill by the Local Bills Committee of the House of Representatives. In its original form the bill provided that, at the request of a local authority, the Governor-General could, by order-in-council, vary procedures in any way. Although the intention was to provide for measures which would increase public interest in local elections, the bill would have given a Government power, if it wished, to withdraw the right to a secret ballot or remove other elements .of democracy from a local election, without reference to Parliament. The Local Bills Committee substituted this clause with another which codifies specific variations of present procedures which can be permitted. As the bill now provides, the Governor-General may. at the request of a. local authority six months in advance. make an order-iri-council which will allow: (1) A local body election to be held over a number of consecutive days, excluding Sundays, and between specified hours.

(2) The use of mobile polling booths in addition to normal polling booths. (3) A postal ballot. There is power to make additional procedures, but no power to abolish or ignore existing procedures. Specifically, the new draft prohibits such an order-iii-council from infringing the secrecy of the ballot. The amendments were reported to the House today. Economic Mission From Japan - (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 9. Twenty-five Japanese businessmen and industrialists arrived in Auckland this evening for a quick look at New Zealand. They said they were not a trade delegation, but an "economic mission." “We have no concrete objectives, or any business to do,” said the leader of the party. Mr K. Suzuki. ‘'We just want to look around, meet people, and study your economic conditions." He said the party was not in the country long enough to do any business but would be content to “look.” The party is made up of members of the Nagoya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and is visiting both Australia and New Zealand.