WHAT IS A HOUSEHOLDER?

Taranaki Daily News, 28 April 1934, Page 12

WHAT IS A HOUSEHOLDER?

SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS. DEFINITIONS IN THE ACT. What is a householder? is a question that arises each year with the approach of the annual meetings for the election of school committees. It is prescribed in the Act that “householders” only may vote and the term is defined as follows:— “A householder is any adult male or female person who has for the period of three months next before the day of the election resided in any dwelling house within the school district, as the owner or tenant; the father and mother or any person who has the actual custody of any child attending a public school situated within any such district, whether resident or not.” It might seem that a householder as defined above, living, say, in the West End district but having a child attending the Central school, could under these conditions register a vote in both places. But this is guarded against; for a further section of the Act states that no person shall be entitled to vote on more qualifications than one, although he possesses them. Providing he or she has children attending a public school any lodger who answers the residential qualification of three months may vote. A “dwelling house” must be some permanent structure to come within the meaning of the Act. A tent or temporary shelter does not qualify. Nor does mere possession of property in a school district entitle anyone to vote. An absentee owner is thus not eligible. All householders’ as outlined above are eligible to be nominated for a committee except where such a householder is in the service of the Education Department, Education Board or is employed by a school committee. The numbers comprising a committee are based on the school attendance in the preceding year and are as follow: Up to 100, committee of five. Over 100 and up to 200, committee of seven; 200 and over, committee of nine. The chairman of the householders’ meeting may be elected by the meetings and has a deliberative vote and can decide a tie, if necessary.