VOTING SYSTEMS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 147, 19 December 1933, Page 10

VOTING SYSTEMS

AT LOCAL ELECTIONS

CHANGE FOR WELLINGTON

The clause in the Wellington City Empowering and Special Rates Consolidation Amendment Bill permitting the use of the cross system of voting at municipal elections in. Wellington instead of the present system of striking oiit tho names of those for whom it is not desired to vote gave rise to some discussion in the House of Representatives yesterday. Although the proposal was objected to in several directions, the clause was agreed to On the voices.

Mr. H. S. 8. Kyle (Government, Kicearton) raised, strong objection to the proposal, and said the people should be educated up to one system of voting. He still had to be convinced that the croBS system was preferable to tho present system of striking out names. fWe are not seeking to inflict this particular provision on Kiecarton or kuy other tin-pot borough,'' said Mr. R. McKeeil (Labour, Wellington South). The present system might be all right where there were only a few candidates, but when fifteen members had to be selected front forty or fifty candidates the Bysteth of placing a cross against the name of those for whom it was desited to vote "was preferable. Mr. A. Stuart (Government, Hangitikei) said he would like to endorse the remarks of Mr. Kyle. Mr. H. T. Armstrong (Labour, Christchureh East): Just what you would do. Ml. Stuart submitted that it was very confusing to have a number of different systems. Mr. It.-Bemple (Labour^ Wellington East) said that Auckland's experience had shown that the system proposed in the Bill was the right one. There had been fewer informal votes at tho last Auckland municipal elections than ever before. . The member* in charge of the Bill, Mr. C. H. Chapman (Labour, Welling' ton North) pointed out that at the last municipal elections in Wellington about 25,000 people voted, and thero we're .4000 informal votes. The majority of the inforinal Votes were traceable to tho fact that vetei'S failed to strike out. a sufficient number of Baffles. The. clause wa§ agreed to on the voices. ■ ■ ■■ * ■ -