MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20479, 4 December 1934, Page 12

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Question of Enrolments Discussed. Considerable concern was expressed by many councillors at last evening’s meeting of the Christchurch City Council, that electors might find themselves off the roll without their knowledge. The discussion arose when the Finance Committee reported that as the election of Mayor, sixteen councillors, representatives on the North Canterbury Hospital Board, and representatives on the Lyttelton Harbour Board would take place on May 1 next, attention was drawn to the fact that the main roll would close on January 31. Councillor T. Milliken asked whether any steps were being taken to put people on the roll. Councillor J. K. Archer, chairman of the Finance Committee, answered that no steps had been taken. In previous years something had been done, and if some money were provided he had no objection to taking the necessary steps. The Mayor (Mr D. G. Sullivan, M.P.) said that from year to year steps, such as sending out enrolment forms or canvassers, had been taken. \\ hatever it had been eomething had been done to assist electors to get themselves on the roll. Councillor Archer moved that the matter be referred back to the Finance Committee to consider, with power to act. Councillor J. W. Beanland protested that the council should go carefully and not spend the ratepayers’ money on this matter. Councillor Archer assured Councillor Beanland that if left in the hands of the committee there would be no extravagance. Councillor E. H. Andrews suggested that prominent advertisements be placed in the newspapers to call the attention of electors to the necessity for enrolling. Several councillors objected on the grounds that party political influence might be exercised. The Mayor assured the council that any attempt to persuade electors to enrol would be quite impartial, and he suggested that Councillor Archer’s proposal that the matter be referred back to the committee be accepted. The motion was carried.