ELECTION PRACTICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25214, 29 May 1945, Page 4

ELECTION PRACTICE

PARTY TABLES AT BOOTHS COMMENT BY REGISTRAR (0.C.) HAMILTON, Monday The point of view of returning officers toward the action of political parties issuing tickets and supplying information to electors at tables outside the booths was expressed by Mr H. B. Keid, registrar of electors, Hamilton, today. He said returning officers would welcome amending legislation dealing with the whole question of the distribution of tickets. His own view was that the practice of any party in printing a photograph and name on one side of the ticket was undesirable, to say the least, and he believed this view was held not only by the chief electoral officer but by all returning officers, and also by the great mass of all voters. In recent years the "ticket" system adopted had grown to such an extent that if it were not curbed in some way by legislation it would be embarrassing, riot onlv to electoral officers, who had reported their experiences to the chief electoral officer, nut_ to everyone concerned, added .Mr Reid. He stated that from his own experience this abnormal growth of the ticket system had been caused by the activities of all political parties and not one party alone. Many voters, when they saw these ticket tables outside polling places,_ formed the opinion that they were official tables which must bp approached before entering the polling booth. "While the numbers given at these party ticket tables wore usually correct, many cases had bepfi recorded in which wrong information was given and on occasions electors were told that they were not on the roll. The conduct and complete control of elections should be left entirely to the returning officers and their deputies, untrammelled in any way by the activities of political parties.

PARLIAMENT TO MEET

SESSION OPENS ON JUNE 27 RETURN OF PARTY LEADERS (P A.) WELLINGTON, Monday The acting-Prime Minister. Mr Nash, announced todav_that Parliament would meet on June The Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, and Mr F. W. Doidge. M P., are due back next month, and the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, is expected to return in time for the opening of Parliament. AIRMEN DECORATED FLYING CROSS AWARDS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Monday The Distinguished Flying Cross has been awarded two more New Zealand airmen—Flight-Lieutenant J. L. de Beer, of Dunedin, and Flying-Officer B. D. Jones, of Waikanae. MOSQUITO NAVIGATOR HE I, ENS VILLE OFFICER Recently awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Flying Officer B. M. Dwerryhouse is the second son of Mr and Mrs T. W. Dwerryhouse, of Helensville. He was educated at the Helensville District High School and left New

Zealand in September, 1941. He received training in Canada as a navigator and later served in the Middle East. On his return to Britain he was an instructor for 12 months and recently completed a tour with a squadron of Mosquito bombers over Europe. HOSPITAL BUSES An application by the Hospital Bus Co. to dispense with the issuing of return tickets was declined by the Auckland Metropolitan Licensing Authority yesterday. The chief grounds for the application were that the amount of wages paid today was considerably higher than in 19119 when the schedule of fares was laid down. The chairman, Mr W. H. Nagle, said that such a step would have to be authorised by the Stabilisation Commission. Permission was given for the company to cater for special functions held in the Domain.