ELECTION METHODS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15655, 25 June 1914, Page 8

ELECTION METHODS.

THE SCHOOL COMMITTEES.

PROTESTS TO THE BOARD

HUNTLY TO BALLOT AGAIN.

There were amusing features in some of tho, correspondence, concerning recent school-committee elections, which came beforoth&'Aucklaad Board of Education yestei'day,

A" protest was received from Mr. James McKeo, of Huntly, as. to alleged irregular'!tise in connection with the election of the committee in that town. The writer (an unsuccessful candidate) declared that a few householders met and elected Mr. James Elliott as chairman, and that the latter ordered the door of the hall to be locked. Mr. McNeo alleged that this wSs done, and a man stationed at the door to prevent entry, other householders being refused permission. He protested but, he stated, was ordered by the chairman to resume his seat. There were more people outside the hall than inside, tho writer added, and tho method of voting Was irregular' The names ot the candidates were written on a blackboard and the one scrutineer handed a pieco of chalk to each voter and instructed him to put & cross on the board against the name of each candidate for whom he wanted to vote. Mr. McNco thought the election should be declared invalid, \

Mr. E. 0. Purdie: If the door was locked tHe proceedings were irregular and autocrats Mr. A. R. Harris: Therehavobeen more clumsy elections this your than I ever re' member to have occurred before

The Chairman (Mr. G. J. Garland): Tho use of the blackboard is the most serious aspect of tho case. The secretary (Mr. ft. Crowe) said the protest had been forwarded to the Huntly School Committee, and had been replied to by the chairman 6/ the committee (Mr. James KUioJlt) whose letter he read, litis communication was devoted to an almost entire repudiation of Mr. McNee'e statements Mr. Elliott referred to the " (ii!--bortian humour" of the latter's letter. He denied that the door of the .hall was locked during the meeting, or that admission was denied to anyone. There wero 16 householders present, and some who arrived late did not bother to come in. In the absence of a Supply 6f papor tho blackboard was used, but ite back was turned towards the people in the hall, Tho writer defended what no termed " this rough-and-ready, but time-saving, method of voting,' saying that it was frequently adopted at school committee elections. Mr. Purdio thought tho board should order a now election.

The socretary said he doubted whether there was provision in the Act for holding another election. The one complained of was a second election. Ho thought the board would havo to appoint a commissioner. The chairman said the election would have to bo declared void owing to tho use of the blackboard'.'.

Mr. KC. Ranks; What happened at the first election ?

The : Chairman: Nobody turned up. . The\ Act having been looked up, it was eventually decided to declare the election invalid, and to.order another one to be held.

Complaint as to Hobsonville.

A complaint as to alleged irregularities in connection with the election of tho Hobsonville Committee was made by Mrs. Emily Nicol. Sho stated that the chairman elected two scrutineers without consulting tho meeting; that the schoolmaster was one of the scrutineers; that two of the ballot papers did not contain the name of ono candidate, The writer further alleged that the whole proceedings were "veiled in doubt."

A resolution passed bv a meeting of 70 Hobsonville residents, likewise protesting against alleged irregularities at the election, was also received. the teacher referred to (Mr. D. B. Squire) wrote explaining that he had taken part in tho olection, as stated, but had dono so not knowing It was a breach of the regulations. He had had "an unpleasant lesson."

The-chairman said .there did not seem to be very much the board could find fault with in connection with the olection.

Mr. Purdie t Tho whole thing is frivolous, The board upheld the validity of the election.

"Gate Securely Chained."

A somewhat irate latter was read from a residont of the Kara (Kaitara) school district, Who declared that when ho went to attend the householders' meeting fie found tho gate loading to tho hall securely chained. Was that right ?ho asked, tho writer allogcd, furthermore,, that the teacher acted (is secretory and scrutineer, and was the first to place his voting paper in the box. Ho proceeded to put a series of hypothetical queries covering a wide rhnge of Committee election procedure, which he asked the board to answer in full.

The Chairman: Wo are not going to give this man free law. As for the teacher, he m pfectty justified in voting. It wan decided to uphold the election.