ELECTION METHODS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 29 October 1928, Page 3

ELECTION METHODS

PERFECTING THE SYSTEM

ERRGRESS WITH THE YEARS

MANY 'CHANGES ADOPTED

A VETERAN'S R ECO ELECTIONS Not many of the multitude of electors who will exercise their privilege at the ballot box next month have given a moment’s thought lo the care find labour' involved in the perfecting of the present system. The smoothness with which it works is accepted as a matter of course, but anyone who. lias been behind the scenes knows that this has only been attained after long years of patient effort.

One who has watched the old haphazard rule of thumb methods pass away, and he steadily supplanted by a system that it would be difficult to improve upon, is Mr J. Hay, the veteran returning officer of the Wnitemula electorate. Fifty years ago next inontli Mr Ifay began to learn telegraph operating in the cadet gallery in Wellington. During his long service, with the Post and Tdlegfaph •Departmerit' he Was stationed in Napier, ' Blenheim, Dunedin, Darfcaville and other Centres, and finally became postmaster at Devonport. After he retired on superannuation from that p6st 'about twelve years ago, lie took up electoral work, of which lie had had wide experience while a. postmaster, lip was appointed electoral inspecting and advisory officer, and in this capacity visited almost all the electoral offices in New Zealand. It- fell to his lot to supervise a number of by-eleetioii.s,. notably those at Onmaru, Stratford, Tnuranga and the Bay of Islands. THE OLD AND THE NEW Mr Hay had full experience, of the work of a returning 'officer in the old days, and lie regards the present system as practically perfect, both in the registration of electors and the record” of their votes. Years ago registrars of electors worked with sheets of foolscap on. which names wore recorded and added in as they came along. This has now given place to an elaborate card index system. Returning officers made out their own instructions lo deputy-re-turning officers as they thought fit, hut now that has all been, reduced to a standardised system. The many improvements introduced have been largely the work of Mr J. Hislop, who was for long the chief returning officer for tile Dominion.

In the old days the -returning officers could do pretty well what they liked and the electors would know very little about it, but as Mr Hay’s experience goes they never abused their positions, or were guilty of unfair practices. They were generally picked men, and they carried out their duties honourably and efficiently, often Under serious difficulties. They had frequently to rely on the assistance of totally inexperienced men, but now there was no difficulty in finding suitable men of experience to act as dfeputy-returning officers. BOOTHS IN THE BACK BLOCKS

In the Kaipara electorate, for instance, there were 'polling booths away back in the bush, and it was necessary to. get a bushman or a contractor to act as deputy. As a master of fact, these men is a rule i-ose to the occasion and carried out their duties splendidly. Mr May recalled an amusing story of a man who had pressed him to be appointed deputy at a- small back-blocks booth. This 'man thought it good policy to indicate that he strongly favoured the candidate whom he imagined Mr Hay favoured. He received the appointment after due warnings regarding the necessity for impartiality, but his discomfiture was complete when the' returns Showed that all, 16 votes from this booth, including his own, were cast for the candidate he had professed to oppose. The present system of scrutiny of the rolls in the presence of representatives of the interested parties makes it practically impossible for any mistake or malpractice to 'remain undetected. The provision for the convenience of electors in all circumstances is now very complete. Travellers can obtain absent.voters’ permits at any booth entitling them to vote in their own electorate. Anyone sick in pliblic or private hospital is fully provided for.

ADVANCES IN TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Mr Huy well remembers the time when there were no women voters. Female franchise .practically doubled the constituency, but otherwise he was not aware that it had inade any marked difference in electoral work. Mr Hay has also many interesting recollections of early days in the Telegraph Department, where the improvements and advances have been just as revolutionary as they have 'been in electoral matters. The department was practically only in its beginnings when lie joined it. Only single lilies wei*e in use, and lie waiclied with the greatest interest the. introduction first of the duplex and then of the quadruples system, under which four men can operate' at each end of the wire. He was stationed in. Blenheim injdie days when the office there handled all the telegraphic work between the North and South Islands, repeating every message. This kept a staff of 76 operators occupied, until the introduction of mechanical translators enabled all messages to be sent direct ,to. their destination, and practically the whole .of that staff was moved elsewhere. Mr Hay was there when the change took place, and ho. greatly treasures a shield containing photographs of all the 76 operators. Mr ITay is busily occupied with preparations for the. coming poll in Waite-' niata, and seems young enough to assist in many more campaigns.