Returning officer runs a smooth organisation

Press, 23 November 1981, Page 12

Returning officer runs a smooth organisation

Although New Zealand women have been casting votes since .1893, only one will be counting them this x election. Miss Elaine Paul is probably the' country’s ■ first female returning officer, and this election will be her third in.this role. “I enjoy this job because it’s a. good exercise .in organising—l have to make sure over 18,000 voters in the' Otahuhu electorate have the chance to vote.” “This means arranging how many, and where, polling booths will be, staffing

and equipping.them and arranging facilities for people who can’t get to them like the ill in rest homes.” Miss • Paul explains. > “I make sure everything runs smoothly on election day. collate the returns that night and carry out the official count afterwards.” As returning officer she is the first to know who’ wins the seat in her electorate and by what margin. While planning for the election continues Elaine Paul also carries out her job in another male domain. She is the second of three

women to have become a district court registrar, and • is responsible for the entire , operation of the Otahuhu Dis- ' trict Court. Although ’ she has noticed an increase in the number of women doing court work, Elaine Paul feels many are not confident enough to climb high on the career ladder. “This has been a puzzle to me because these women are capable, but they tend to reach a point where they’re satisfied with their job and don’t think it’s worthwhile

getting greater responsibilities." *Tve been in the courts division since I left school and although I've no driving ambition, I need to progress because I get stale." “In my experience; with each step up I've taken my confidence has grown, so you go from strength to strength.” Elaine Paul enjoys achieving new goals which is why courts have never lost their appeal to her. “Each new grading has taken me into a new area and renewed my interest."