CHANGE DESIRED

Southland Times, Issue 21073, 3 May 1930, Page 7

CHANGE DESIRED

VOTING AT LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS. (Per United Press Association.) Wellington, May 2. Legislation providing for an optional method of voting at local body elections was sought by a deputation from the executive of the Municipal Association which waited on the Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle) today.

The Mayor of Wanganui (Mr W. J. Rogers) said that at present it was mandatory to strike out the names of the candidates for whom the elector did not wish to vote, and this in the larger centres had been found difficult. The executive now asked for an alteration in the law to enable local bodies to give the elector the option of voting either by means of the cross against a name, or by striking a line through them. The Minister: Don’t you think the most simple method is to score out the name of the person whom you don't desire? The cross leads to confusion.

Mr Rogers: It is a matter of opinion and it all depends upon the method you arc used to.

The Mayor of Wellington (Mr G. A. Troup) said it was in the counting of the votes that the real difficulty occurred, particularly with the larger local bodies. Mr J. O’Shea (City Solicitor at Wellington). said the Auckland City Council had asked for the provision. The Minister promised to look into the matter.