"TOUTING" AT ELECTIONS

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 16 June 1913, Page 5

"TOUTING" AT ELECTIONS

RETURNING OFFICER'S PROTEST. AUCKLAND CITY -COUNCIL TO TAKE ACTION. "SCANDALOUS APATHY" OF ELECTORS CONDEMNED.

BY TELEGBAPH —PBESS ASSOCIATION. AUCKLAND, June 13. the Returning Officer, Mr J. K. Hogan commenting on the city election arrangements of the 30th of April lagt stated in a report presented to the City Council last night that the practice of "touting" at the booths was an undesirable feature in the municipal elections, and should be discontinued, particularly so in view of the I fact that as the law now stands electors I might be called upon to vote every two years on five separate issues at one poll, namely, election of Mayor. C-ty Councillors, Hospital Board,' Harbo* Board, and statutory half-holiday. "Touting" by voice or card led to endless confusion and error, and was, not calculated to produce the best results. The total number of informal votes on the four issues last election was 1462 made up as follows: Council 284, Harbor Board 360, Hospital Board 389, satutory closing day 429. This indicated that the size of the ballot paper —35 candidates for the Council —did not lead to undue confusion; also that th electors were clear on the big issue, and that there were not so many conflicting elements as existed iii the smaller issues such as Hospital Board and half-holiday polls, for which "touting" was very noticeable. The report was referred to the Finance Committee for consideration it being understood that the committee would take into consideration ways and means of carrying into effect the various recommendations im;de by the Returning Officer. The Mayor remarked in passing that the apathy of the people in not voting was scandalous. The man who did not record his vote, his Worship declared, should be deprived of the right to do so.