ELECTORAL COLLEGE

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31831, 8 November 1968, Page 1

ELECTORAL COLLEGE

(From Our Own Reporter) ' WESTPORT, Nov. 7. There was some confusion at the annual meeting of the Buller County Council yesterday before Cr N. Christiansen was returned' for a seventh term as chairman. '• He was nominated by Crs J. Adam and J. N. Mouat. Crs I. L. Tyler and W. Mullan nominated Cr W. 11. Martin and there was athird candidate when Cr Adam was nominated by Crs D. G. Bateman and C.Oram. Cr G. Meadows was told by the Engineer-Clerk (Mr C. F. Schadlck), who conducted the election, that a secret ballot could not be held.

Cr Meadows: “We must be only one of a few organisations in New Zealand not entitled to such a procedure.” Mr Schadlck said that the matter had been raised at county conferences but the secret voting system had not been changed. He did not agree to a motion by Cr L. Martin that a name be-drawn out of a hat. . The voting resulted: For Cr Christiansen: Crs Meadows, Mouat, Adam and Christijmsen. For Cr Martin: Crs Tyler, Mullan and Martin. ■ For Cr Adam: Crs Bateman, Oram and Adam.

Cr Tyler arose to a point of order, pointing to Cr Adam recording two votes. Cr Christiansen, who had been declared elected, ruled him out of order and warned him of an attitude which could give the council poor publicity and reveal it in a bad light. Cr Tyler: But I can't understand how you can get 10 votes from nine councillors.

Cr Mullan: It certainly does not look right. After Cr Adam had withdrawn the vote for himself, Cr Tyler again objected. Mr Schadlck said that Cr Adam was perfectly right in acting as he did to clarify the position.