A DEFECTIVE SYSTEM.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CIX, Issue 13113, 29 April 1903, Page 6

A DEFECTIVE SYSTEM.

We have good reason for believing that there is some ground for the allegations made by one of our correspondents this morning concerning the manner in Which local elections are conducted. We have heard of far more irregular proceedings here than were considered sufficient in the Newtown case to invalidate the poll. Returning officers or their deputies have omitted to number and. stamp the voting papers, have neglected to prevent more than the prescribed number of electors entering the booth at the same time, and have refused', even when representations nave been made to them, to take reasonable precautions' W preserve the secrecy of the ballot. The offences, of which these are only samples, are mainly due to the appointment of incompetent or careless deputies, who cither do not know the law or will hot take the trouble to see it observed. Many instancel oi irregularities in connection with a recent election have been reported. At one booth a deputy left his marked roll and a pile of voting papers in charge of a casual visitor while he explained: the mysteries ol voting to an illiterate elector. At; another, a deputy waa away from his post for fully a quarter of an hour without making any provision for the care of the booth. Probably either of these irregularities would have been sufficient to upset tho poll if the result had been seriously challenged, but no one moved in the matter, and the deputies, if they have been re-appointed, are. free to do the same kind of thing at the elections to-day. We hope, however, that the revelations made during the hearing of the petitions against the Newtown and Bruce licensing polls have acted as a salutary warning to the local returning officer, and that he has taken the precaution to issue precise instructions to his subordinates upon tho discharge of their very responsible duties.