Ward and election changes sought

Press, 14 September 1976, Page 6

Ward and election changes sought

An independent committee should be appointed after each census to review possible ward boundary 7 changes, the Christchurch City Council’s policy and finance committee has said.

cillors said, the Local Elec-I I tions and Polls Bill shouldj, i allow all cities to have such! a provision. i In the 1974 election, a list of candidates in alphabetical! order. showing party: affiliations, had to be placed! in each polling booth. Councillors said that system did 1 tnot work. "It’s a disgrace to see people, particularly elderly ! people, trying to figure out’ what the sheet on the side, i of the booth means in rela-i • tion to the voting paper.” said Cr David Caygill. "It isj of no assistance at all to; thousands of people.” Cr Bruce Britten said a new system would “make it; easier for a genera! public' (who are basically not well-; informed about all the candi-' dates.” Another possibility for the'

Councillors followed 1 the recommendations al. special wards sub-j committee made earlierj this year. •< They also said that no,, further action should be i -aken on a proposal to elec’, some ‘at large” councillors'! outside the ward system. , In other election business., the committee said that city J so! cit rs should draw upproposed Government legis-r lation to a’low a candidate’s, oar", affiliation to be listed ' hesid<> his name on the vot- , ing paper Both Auckland and Wellington already have that;, right under separate Empo-j wenng Acts sought by their’ councils. At the same time, coun->

11977 local body elections, (among changes to be studied by a council sub-committee, jis a Government proposal I that all local authorities be I able to conduct specific elections by postal votes. The Town Clerk (Mr J. H. ’Gray) said there could be "sheer mechanical problems” iin Christchurch postal vot- ! ing, including the difficulty ’in counting ballots “from (one king-sized polling place (the Municipal Chambers).” j He said that some candi- ’ dates “might have to wait ■ two, three or four days to (find out how they had done.” Christchurch City had the (largest number of local body (electors in New Zealand, and 'there would be several ; issues in each election to be (sorted out.