WHO SHOULD VOTE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 55, Issue 32693, 25 March 1946, Page 7

WHO SHOULD VOTE

OPINION OF COUNCILLORS OHINE'MURI DISCUSSION TAXATION & REPRESENTATION Voting qualifications in local body areas were under discussion at the March meeting of the Ohinemuri County Council, the matter arising out of a circular letter from the Counties’ Association, in which, inter aliay county councils were asked to express their views on certain aspects of the ward system and incidentally of proposals of the Parliamentary Committee on local government reform. Cr. J. J. Fitzgerald asked what would be the position of the Maori people in regard to voting, under the proposed- new scheme, at local body elections. Would people who paid no rates have the same voting power as ratepayers ? 'The position, to his mind, did not seem right. Comment by Clerk The clerk, Mr A. A. Jenkinson, who asked why the Maori in particular should be penalised, stated that in- the case of county elections if a person resided within the county area concerned whether European or Maori, he would be able to vote whether he paid his rates or not; if outside the area he would not be able to vote. The acting-chairman, Cr G. A. Avery: It doesn’t seem right. Cr. Fitzgerald: It isn’t right. It is contrary to the principle of representation on the basis of taxation. Hospital Amalgamation

Another suggestion, in the circular letter of the Counties- Association concerned the amalgamation- of certain hospital board areas. It was considered,, e.g., that the six hospital boards operating* in North Auckland could quite reasonably-' be amalgamated.

'Or. S. H. Thompson: On the whole, the report seems quite reasonable. On the motion of Ci*. E. L. Yearbury seconded by Ci*. S. H. Thompson, the report was- adopted.