VOTERS ARRIVE TOO LATE

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1931, Page 7

VOTERS ARRIVE TOO LATE

POSITION AT CHATHAMS.

BOOTHS.CLOSE AT FOUR O’CLOCK.

The practice of closing the polling booths at the Chatham Islands at four o’clock instead of at seven o’clock, as is the case elsewhere, does_ not meet with general approval on the islands, according to statements made by residents who arrived at Lyttelton by the steamer Tees. Mr. N. Cox, formerly a member of the Chatham Islands County Council, stated that at the recent poll, many people attended at the booth just in time to vote, but many others arrived too late. One family of five all missed Voting. Some residents spent three or four hours getting to a booth,, only to find that they were too late to vote.. Mr. Cox said that he himself arrived at a booth shortly after four o’clock and was surprised to find progress results posted up. There were . three booths on the islands, one at Waitangi, one at Kaingaroa and one at Owenga, but some of the people even then had to travel 20 and 30 miles, and many had to ride 15 miles, on horseback to exercise, their vote., Mr. Cox found a notice to the effect that the booths closed at 4 p.m.. but people a good distance out would probably never see it. Even if it -meant getting the results in a day later it would be worth while keepingthe booths open until six o’clock. Mr. J. N. Neville, returning officer for the Lyttelton electorate, which includes' the Chathams, said it had always been the practice to close the booths at four o’clock at the Ohatbams so that the results could be sent through to Christchurch by seven o’clock. In some cases the voting papers had to be carried nis.ny miles to the post office. Kaingaroa. being 23 miles from Waitangi and Owenga. 14 ! mile*.