SIMPLIFIED LOCAL VOTING PLANNED

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30511, 5 August 1964, Page 3

SIMPLIFIED LOCAL VOTING PLANNED

(N Z. Press Association) ] WELLINGTON, Aug. 4. j A bill revising the present local elections and polls legislation might be ready for the Government’s consideration and subsequent introduction this year. The annual report of the Department of Internal Affairs said the experience of many local authority administrative officers had suggested several possible improvements to the act to clarify sections which were difficult to interpret and to make provision for simplified and improved voting and returning procedures. These points were being discussed with representatives of the Institute of Town Clerks and Municipal Treasurers and the Institute of County Clerks. Results of the one limited series of experimental local authority election figures and the over-all figures for two elections only were not in themselves a sound basis for conclusions on what might be done to stimulate public participation in local elections, said the report. The 1962 election survey revealed that 165 of 2612

members of territorial bodies also served on special purpose authorities. Eleven of these were members of two or more boards. Sixteen persons who were not members of a territorial authority served on two or more special purpose authorities. Of the 91 women elected to special purpose authorities, 87 were members of hospital boards. Eighty-three women were municipal councillors (an increase of 28 over 1959) but only six were county councillors. The percentage of eligible electors which voted where elections were held in 1962 was 44.5 compared with 46.3 in 1959. Higher Spending Expenditure in the Department of Justice exceeded revenue by £824,001 for the year ending March 31. said the Secretary for Justice (Mr J. L. Robson). Last year expenditure was £3,192,380 and revenue £2,654.546. However, the revenue was inflated by the inclusion of £95,000 which rightly belonged to 1962-63. The increase in expenditure was mainly through the higher cost of maintaining penal institutions, said Mr Robson.

Chalhams Service

Preliminary arrangements for facilities for a land-based air service to replace the present Sunderland flying-boat service to the Chatham Islands had been advanced, said the annual report of the Internal Affairs Department. Two aerodrome surveys, a preliminary assessment of likely sites by a party from the Civil Aviation Department and the Ministry of Works, and an engineering survey by the Ministry of Works have been undertaken. The report on the latter survey was now being studied by the Government. More Fire Calls Calls attended by fire brigades throughout New Zealand rose 2789 to 19,628 or 1861 more than the previous highest record in 1961, the Fire Service Council said in its annual report. Of the total calls, there were 4304 false alarms, including 709 classed as malicious calls, 2468 were chimney fires, 5457 were rubbish and herbage fires and there were 826 special services. Parks Visitors

An estimated 445,000 people visited national parks this year compared with 345,000 the previous year, said the an-

nual report of the Lands and Survey Department. The greatest increases were in Tongariro, Urewera, Arthur’s Pass and Westland National Parks. Also, 23,500 overseas tourists were guests in Tourist Hotel Corporation hotels in three parks, the report said. Explosives Control Regulations controlling the manufacture of ammonium nitrate-fuel oil explosives will be announced soon, the Department of Internal Affairs said in its annual report. Interest in the explosive was quickened by the announcement that the contractors for the Doubtful Sound tunnel project, who had used the explosive overseas, proposed to use it in New Zealand, the report says. A prosecution had been brought when in one instance the explosive was manufactured illegally with an unsuitable type of ammonium nitrate and used with unsatisfactory results. Citizenship During the year 2198 requests for New Zealand citizenship were received and 1920 granted, said the annual report of the Internal Affairs Department. Naturalisation or registration had been refused in 39 cases and a decision deferred

in 38. One person was deprived of his New Zealand citizenship—the first for many years. He was a Commonwealth citizen who entered New Zealand under a false identity. A record 19,264 passports were issued the report said. Several people had been apprehended in Pakistan and Europe bearing forged New Zealand passports, apparently originating in India. Topographical Survey Complete topographical surveying coverage of the whole country to a scale of one mile to. an inch was an aim it was hoped would be achieved in five to 10 years, said the annual report of the Lands and Survey Department. Every effort was made to concentrate where the need was most urgent, particularly for hydro-electric development and soil conservation purposes, the report said. Land Development Land areas amounting to 1,043,000 acres with a potential of 1565 farms were being developed by the Lands and Survey Department. In addition, 450,000 acres of high country in the Molesworth station, 82.000 acres in Maori blocks and 38,000 acres for Government departments or agencies are being developed.