Declaration of the Poll.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7022, 28 November 1890, Page 2

Declaration of the Poll.

We are quite sure that Mr C. 11. Gray meant no discourtesy to the citizens when he absented himself from the City Council building yesterday at nooni He had no reason to think that there was going to be any declaration of the poll at that time. For some years the absurd practice has been discontinued, and we are sorry to see any attempt made to revive it. In these days of keen business competition the loss

of time incurred by attending at the polling places to register a vote is frequently bewailed, although the electors can take their own hour for going to the poll, and make it to suit their convenience But the declaration of tho poll used to be made at noon, the busiest time in the day, when only the uaemployed, or men I whose avocations are not very oxacti ing could attend, consequence was j that candidates, successful and unsuccess» | ful, addressed a gathering more or less I numerous according to the excitement the previous election had aroused, and generally gave utterance to a few platitudes which meant little or nothing. This was the case when the ceremony was only a farce. But sometimes it became a nuisance. When the result of the poll had disappointed too sanguine partisans, the public declaration was used as an opportunity for relieving their feelings of initiation by insults and violence towards the candidates they disliked. The public declaration oE the poll should be absolutely abolished, as the public nomination has been. Both areequally useless, and both are equally objectionable. The attempt to revive them yesterday was quite uncalled for, and is ■ much to be deprecated.