ABSENTEE OWNERS

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30936, 17 December 1965, Page 18

ABSENTEE OWNERS

Few Vote At Waimairi

Of 19,653 electors on thei roll, 7632, or 38.8 per cent, voted in the council election on October 9, as compared with 21.6 per cent in 1962, the Clerk (Mr K. Maclachlan) reported to the Waimairi County Council last night. Poorer-than-average percentages in the Styx, Harewood. Papanui, Wainarapa and Avonhead ridings probably were to some degree accountable to the number of vacant building lots, he said. “The owners of these sections live anywhere from Bluff to North Cape, but mostly in the city area," said Mr Maclachlan. These people do not bother to come to an outer area to vote, even though they own land in it The only way these people could, possibly, exercise their votes would be if elections were conducted by the postal voting method.” Riding voting percentages were given as: Styx, 36.8; Harewood, 28.7: Papanui, 33, Wairarapa, 34.1; Avonhead, 31.2; Fendalton, 50.6; Belfast 53.5; Marshland, 62.9; Middleton, 36.4. In Harewood 306 section owners, or 10.8 per cent of voters in this category, did not bother to vote. In Avonhead the number was at least 192, or 6.2 per cent, and Styx figures would be higher still because of the number of vacant beach sections, he said.