AT THE POLLS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10756, 30 April 1913, Page 5

AT THE POLLS.

TO-DAY'S ELECTIONS

EXERCISING THE RIGHT OF

CITIZENSHIP

STEADY VOTING ALL DAY LONG.

It was obvio is curly in the day that there had been an awakening amongst Hio citizens of Ohristchureh and its suburbs, and at tho polling-booths for tho elections there is evidenco that tho reproach of apathy on this occasion will not be deserved. As a matter of lact, more interest lias been taken in the municipal elections this year than mus shown in thorn in .any previous ;>enr in the city's history. It cannot bo said that tho citizens came out to vote in axceptionally large numbers, but, from tho opening the booths at nine o'clock there has been steady voting. The largest*number of voters, of course, is at tho Provincial Council Cham bens, which have taken on tho appearance they assume during a Parliamentary election. There are little tables on the footpath in front of the main entrance in Durham Street, with clusters of busy men and women, handing out printed tickets and industriously looking up voters' numbers on the rolls.

The unusually large number of issues there are no fewer than five—has added largely to the citizens' duties. The voter feels that he has a somewhat formidable task before him when lie first enters a booth, but Mr G. W. Hulmo, the Deputy-Returning Officer, has made his arrangenients so admirably that confusion is avoided, and the voting has gone on quite steadily, and with an utter absence of anything in the nature of dissension. On an average, about eight minutes is spent by each voter in the booth. The first duty is to vote for Mayor. There are separate booths, tables, clerks and copies of the rolls for that. When the ballot-paper is dropped into the box marked "Mayor" in large black letters, the voter passes on to another table and goes through the same process to choose members of the City Council. In the city this is followed by the voting for members of the Harbour Board and of the Charitable Aid Board. HOW TO MARK A PAPER.

Alphabetical order is observed in placing candidates' names on a ballot paper, and the elector anxious to vote "the ticket" may easily become bewildered in a maze of surnames and Christian names. Perhaps it would not he a bad plan to avoid informality for every elector pledged to a tiSket to make a note of his or her party candidates, and produce it inside the booth to mark off. More than the required number will invalidate the vote, but an elector may vote for fewer than the number required. He may vote for, say, one councillor only, and still cast a formal vote. Opposite each name a vacant square is set, and the voter must make a cross in the square opposite the name or names of the candidate for whom, he desires to vote. The paper will not be informal if the elector strikes out the names of those for whom he does not wish to vote. In fact, so long as the voter's inte-ntion is clearly indicated, the vote will be accepted. TOLLS CLOSE AT 7 O'CLOCK.

The closing of the poll at 7 p.m. will be only the beginning of the hard work for the deputies. Then the counting will commence, and, as is usual, much rivalry will exist as to who will be first on the result-board. This distinction will probably fall to a email booth. The master of ceremonies, Mr G. W. Hulme, lias been extremely busy for the last few weeks organising what will probably be the most intricate poll ever taken in Christchurch. He estimates that the results should start to come in about 7.45, and hopes to post the final figures by 9.45 p.m. There are thirty-nine polling places, with five deputies to each, and an army of poll clerks, bringing the total of men under his direction to nearly 450. All results will be telephoned to the Art Gallery, where Mr Hulme will himself supervise the announcement-. Three telephones have been connected with this station, and prompt results may be looked for. GENERAL INFORMATION.

A rush of voters will probably take place late in the day and help to congest the booths. Deputies have strict instructions not to allow more than six persons in a booth at the same time and a blockage may be avoided. If there is a crowd of voters near closing time they may be admitted, and their votes taken even after the poll closes, so long as the door is closed at 7 p.m. Mr Hulme put his deputies and poll clerks through their facings last night at the Art Gallery, and after giving them very complete instructions conducted a trial ballot to show how the work of the booth should be conducted. He was asked by a poll clerk whether a deputy should stop the voting if the booth became crowded. " For goodness sake," Mr Hulme replied, " don't ever stop the voting. Get one of your clerks to clear the booth, but keep on working." A BIG DISPLAY THIS EVENING. This morning, carpenters began to erect a high scaffolding and hoarding in front of the southern end of the Provincial Council Buildings, at the corner of Gloucester Street and Cambridge Terrace, close to the bridge. On the hoarding, the results will be announced as soon as they are received by Mr Hulme. There, also, the results will be posted, and there, it is expected, a large number of candidates, successful and unsuccessful, will address the public. AT THE BOOTHS. The thirty-nine booths in the four wards commenced, business with a steady stream of voters. Everything went smoothly. Of the army of 470 deputies, poll clerks and ushers, not one man was absent from his post at nine a.m. and Mr G. W. Hulme, the Returning Officer, and his asistants had their otherwise arduous work considerably simplified. There were many canvas "b.Notlis, but the weather was fine and were no accidents. At the Provincial Council Chambers > in the Central Ward the heaviest polling took place. The booth was served by innumerable cars, and outside were the candidates' partisans with small tables and rolls, and cards instructing the voter how to vote for this or that candidate. The tactics of some of these persons suggested that an amendment of the law was advisable to prevent any person from using influence on another in the matter of voting. At some tables a card was marked to represent a ballot paper in favour of certain candidates. At other tables a card was presented to voters, ostensibly indicating their choice of candidate®, but bearing only the names of certain nominees. Stiil, the voters seemed to lie fairly intelligent ill regard to their duties j and very little trouble was met with.

Many persons found themselves disfranchised, owing to the purging process by which a person changing his address and not re-applying for enrolment- was automatically wiped off. Cases were numerous of persons who had changed their addresses inside the same ward, but were not- aware till the last moment that their names had been struck off.

There were indications of a heavy poll up till thn early afternoon, although the rush wa.s expected late, as usual.

LYTT ELTON. The municipal elections at Lyttelton to-day are causing no excitement., but throughout the morning there ua.s a steady stream of voters to the pollingbooth!-; at St Saviour's .Schoolroom and Colonists' Hall. Thirteen candidates are contesting the nine seats on the while .\le-s.srs (i. Laurcnson,

M.P., and Mr ,J. R. "VVebb are stand- J ing for the Mayoralty. Up to midday about 250 electors had j voted. It is expected that the result j of the election will be mad® known I about 9.30 p.m. j

[Fhoji OUR Correspondent.] TTMARU, April 30

A steady, cold rain is interfering seriously itli the municipal polling. Though no great issue is raised, the contest between the four candidates for the Mayoralty is expected to be very keen, but the largo poll that was anticipated is not likely to be realised. Street-corner gossip says that the absence of the women voters will militate against Mr Bowie's chance but will improve Mr Angland's prospects. [Pkr Press Association.] WELLINGTON, April 30Keen interest is being taken in the municipal elections to-day. The Labour Party is particularly active, and a heavy poll is expected. DUNEDIN, April 30. A record poll was expected for the Mayoralty, but the weather will probably cause the absence of a large number of intending voters.