Election Changes Sought

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31345, 15 April 1967, Page 22

Election Changes Sought

Proposals for making a fairer distribution of Christchurch Drainage Board seats and for the board elections to be transferred to the same day as the municipal elections were discussed at an informal meeting between the board and the metropolitan councils.

The board wants a reorganisation of its districts to correspond with council areas. The board’s secretary (Mr T. A. Tucker) yesterday wrote to the councils, asking for their early agreement to various points.

The board’s suggested reallocation of seats, based on either population or capital value, would give the Christchurch city area nine seats, three to Waimairi county, one to Paparua county, and one to the combined district of Riccarton borough and Heathcote and Halswell counties.

Boundaries of the existing board districts have been out of line for some years, according to Mr Tucker, and the board in February agreed to readjust its districts tO' give more equitable representation.

If the board’s election could be held on the same day as the municipal elections, the board feels that it would stimulate interest in the electors.

The fact that the board’s elections have been held at different times to the municipal elections had long been a bone of contention, said Mr Tucker.

As few as 4 or 5 per cent of the electors voted, whereas the vote would be at least 10 times that at municipal elections.

If the board elections were on the same day as the municipal elections, the board, having agreement from the councils to reallocate its seats to conform to council boundaries could use council rolls. “This would effect a considerable economy,” said Mr Tucker.

Mr Tucker said he had written to the councils asking for their views on five questions arising from the meeting:—

(1) Would the councils agree to the board seeking legislation postponing its next election, due in October, until October, 1968, at the same date as the municipal elections?

(2) Did the councils

approve of the board’s proposed reallocation of seats?

(3) Would there be any objection to regrouping Halswell and Heathcote counties, with one seat, and Riccarton borough and the Middleton riding of Waimairi county, with one seat, to give an increase of one in the size of the board?

(4) Would the councils allow the board to use their electoral rolls, subject to agreement on costs, even if the board’s election date cannot be changed?

(5) Would the councils agree to joint use by the board of polling places if both elections are held on the same day?

Mr Tucker said that an early decision was wanted from the councils if the date of the board election was to be changed. It would involve ministerial action. The board’s solicitor was preparing the private bill that would be needed to change the representation.