Polling Procedure Change Urged

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30879, 12 October 1965, Page 1

Polling Procedure Change Urged

With the poor response of voters in Saturday’s local-body elections, the Christchurch Transport Board should examine new polling procedure for its own election in 1967, said Mr R. Jones, when the board met yesterday.

“The time to get on to this is right now,” he said. Mr H. E. Denton said ths board should sue for the post ponement of its election ts the same time as the nexi municipal election. There was a motion on ths books of the Christchurcl

City Council, passed a few months ago, for the absorption of the Transport Board and the Drainage Board. Subsequent to that, said Mr E. J. Bradshaw, was the City Council resolved to take steps to implement legislation for a regional authority. “But when a bill prepared by the city solicitor was sub-

; mitted to the council, the City Council reversed its decision,” said Mr Bradshaw. “I would suggest it is a i matter on which the City : Council should make up its mind,” he said. “I would hope better things of the new City Council.”

Took Umbrage Mr Denton rose to “take umbrage” at Mr Bradshaw’s remarks. The City Council had made up its mind, he said, and would pursue its objective of the absorption of the Transport and Drainage Boards. At this stage, Mr Jones reminded the meeting that he had brought up the question of new polling procedure. The chairman (Mr J. R. Smith) suggested that Mr Jones bring his ideas forward in writing. Questioned after the meeting, Mr Jones said he was thinking of postal voting, and voting throughout the week, as a means of attracting a bigger poll. “Absolutely Shocking”

Saturday’s local-body poll, to which only 30 per cent of voters turned out, was “absolutely shocking,” said Mr Jones, to a reporter. The last Transport Board election had attracted an even smaller poll. “It was a very low poll, and a very costly poll,” he said.