MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22165, 19 July 1935, Page 13

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

TOO MANY ISSUES PROPOSAL FOR SEPARATION INVESTIGATION AUTHORISED A possible solution of the* difficulties created at the recent municipal elections in Auckland by the number of issues submitted to the electors was suggested by the city returning officer, Mr. P. F. Notley, in a report to the City Council last night. His proposal was that the mayoral and council issues should be separated from the election of the harbour and other boards.

The Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, said his object was to ascertain whether arrangements could not be mado to obviate what in some instances had been shown to bo chaotic conditions under which electors exercised tlieir votes at the last elections.

In referring to the fact that the election of Mayor, councillors, and members of the Harbour, Hospital and Transport Boards fell on the same day, Mr. Notley said that from the official point of view the handling of these five issues on the same day was far too cumbersome both for the staff and the electors. It was almost impossible to obviate congestion at the booths, as in most cases the halls were not large enough to accommodate more voting screens. ,The remedy lay in separating the mayoral and council issues from the election of other boards, which could perhaps be dealt with 011 another day, but this would necessitate amendment to the law. The step proposed would involve greater expenditure, unless the other bodies concerned were made liable for their own expenses. The total cost of the election was £4093, which included the compiling and printing of the rolls, but did not include any portion of the salaries of the permanent staff. Of the total cost the council found £2859, the Transport Board £744 and the Harbour Board £490.

The Mayor moved that the report be referred to the Legal and By-laws Committee for inquiry and report.. The Hon. T. Bloodworth, M.L.C., said the time had arrived when the council should consider the need for amalgamating some of the bodies mentioned.

While agreeing that improvement was necessary, the deputy-mayor, Mr. B. Martin, said ho thought that the last poll was one of tho, most satisfactory that ho knew of. The Mayor's motion was carried.

TAMAKI WATER SUPPLY LOAN AUTHORITY SOUGHT UNEMPLOYMENT BOARD SUBSIDY The plans for providing an adequate water supply for the Tamaki district, including the laying of mains and tho erection of a service reservoir at St. Heliers Bay, were further considered by the City Council last night. 'lt was stated that there had been a requisition from the Health Department requiring the council to provide the necessary waterworks to the satisfaction of the medical officer of health at Auckland at a maximum cost of £18,090. On the recommendation of the Public Services Committee, it was decided to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for authority to raise the necessary money. A letter was also received from tho Minister of Employment, the Hon. S. G. Smith, stating that the Unemployment Board was prepared to provide a subsidy on wages paid to men engaged on the work. The subsidy would be £1 15s for every man working 40 hours a week, labour to be engaged through a Government employment bureau at standard rates and married men only to be employed. The board's offer was accepted.

A NEW INDUSTRY LARGE BUYER OF WATER CHARGE CONCESSION SOUGHT # i The possibility of the establishment of a new industry outside the city boundary was brought under the notice of the City Council last night by a firm of solicitors, who stated that a client proposed to start such an industry which was likely to require a water supply of from 2,000,000 to 3,000,000 gallons a year. They asked whether the council would bo prepared to deliver water at the city boundary for consumption outside the city area, and suggested that the charge might reasonably be that charged to city consumers.

The matter was referred to the Public Services Committee, with power to act.

THE MUNICIPAL BAND PLEA FOR RETENTION Regret that a proposal had been made by the City Council to discontinue the concerts given by the Municipal Band was expressed in a letter received by the council last night from the Auckland division of the New Zealand Society of Professional Teachers of Music. It was stated that the musicians of Auckland were striving hard to restore music to its proper place, and that to abolish any organisation which was helping the cause of music and to deprive the largest city in the Dominion of its Municipal Band would bo a public calamity. The letter was referred to the Finance Committee for a report.