VOTING BY COMPANIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23227, 22 December 1938, Page 14

VOTING BY COMPANIES

LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS amendment to rating act APPOINTMENT OF NOMINEES The need for careful attention being given to the appointment of nominees upon the City Council valuation list bv companies and business firms in order to pain the full franchise in local body elections was stressed yesterday by the Auckland Citizens and Katepayers' Association. It was pointed out that under a comparatively recent amendment to the Rating Act it was now possible for each individual to exorcise onlv one vote. The valuation list of the City Council is now being compiled, and it is to be deposited about the middle of January. Any iirm occupying any property within the city boundaries and possessing a rating qualification which desires to appoint a new nominee for voting purposes must notify the city valuer before this date. Providing the nominee has no other voting qualifications within the city boundaries he will lie entered in the' list as the occupier of the property. Prior to the amendment to tlie Act it was possible for 0110 individual to exercise more than one vote at local body elections, as he might be enrolled under a rating qualification in respect of a property and at the same time be the nominated representative of a company owning or leasing another city property. This, however, is no longer possible. it was stated yesterday that firms should be careful to choose a nominee who would be entitled to vote on their behalf under the terms of the amended Act. It was pointed out that in the event of 110 nomination being made the manager of a company, or the person whose name was ordinarily used as the first or leading name ill the firm, would be entered as the occupier.