THE PRESS MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1977. The hard work for voters

Press, 3 October 1977, Page 16

THE PRESS MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1977. The hard work for voters

When electors go to the polls this week even the most conscientious of them will probably be voting blind for many of the offices to be filled. A voter in Christchurch City has to pick more than 30 names from a list of about 80. No voters can fairly be blamed for failing in their democratic responsibility when acquainting themselves with the policies and competence of all the candidates would require immense time and effort.

Even if all the candidates were successful in clearly defining their positions, and if all the voters took the trouble to establish what these positions were, the present system of local government would still make the casting of an effective vote a difficult task. Voters might establish which candidates most nearly favoured their preferred solutions to local problems: even then the structure of local government is so complex that no-one can cast a vote and be assured that a distinct line of approach to these problems or a distinct set of policies will be followed throughout the local government system

No-one likes to think that the political system mocks the very values it is supposed to enshrine, but that is very nearly so in the local government of Christchurch. No-one can be sure that the elections will give any clear idea of what directions the majority of the citizens of Christchurch want the city to take Some candidates may distinguish themselves, perhaps by chance, by persistance, or because of a position they already hold. They may command more votes than others for these reasons alone. When an election campaign is fought on precise and clear

issues, candidates’ declarations on important or prominent matters may be enough to enable voters to make their choices. These may add up to a persuasive weight of opinion in favour of particular policies.

But an election may be notably lacking in distinct differences of policy. It may be without those few issues that can crystallise the thinking of both candidates and electors. Such an election presents very real problems for even the most conscientious voters. It is not, of course, an excuse for taking no interest in the voting at all; it is merely an election for which the voter has to work harder.

One pressing need is to reduce the number of candidates among whom the electors must choose. To achieve this, the local government system must be simplified Such a simplification would also increase the chances that the preferred policies will be carried out. This requires the unification of metropolitan Christchurch and the establishment of a single council which will work much more like a regional parliament. It might be a large body, but all the candidates for it could be made sufficiently recognisable through ward or district voting. They would also be much more directly accountable to their electors. Until such sweeping changes occur, the best that conscientious voters can do is make a determined effort to understand at least how some of the candidates stand on issues about which they feel strongly. This is cold comfort to those who would like to be able to discharge their democratic responsibility properly and effectively.