POLITICAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8218, 23 August 1906, Page 7

POLITICAL.

A NEW VOTING MACHINE,

The latest, and, it iB claimed, the simplest mode of voting at elections yet put forward is the system evolved by Sir Wm. Steward, and which is now buing demonstrated to legislators at Parliamentary Buildings. Separate ballot-boxes are provided bearing the namea of the candidates and (at the option of the returning officer) their photographs. The elector goes to the returning officer, who writes the elector's number on a card, Inserts the card in an envelope, which is sealed and stamped officially with a stamp bearing the name of the electorate and then handed to the I elector. The latter goes Into the usual recess and drops his card into the box bearing the name of the candidate for whom he desires to vote. No writing whatever is done by the elector. At the close of the poll the boxes are unlocked, and every envelope taken out is stamped with the number the candidate bears upon the list. Thus no informal voting can take place, for the vote is counted according to the number stamped upon the envelope found in t]be respective hoses. The secrecy of the ballet is maintained, the problem of informal voting is overcome, and polling is reduced to the, utmost simplicity.

ABOLITION OF THE TOTALISATOR.

It iu Mr. Lll's intention to again bring down his three familiar Bills, (1) for the abolition of the totalisator, (2) for the abolition of plural voting in country districts, and (3) for the application of the referendum and the initiative to local government. Mr 1311 thinks the prospeots for his anti-totalisa-tor Hill aie brighter than ever, for there has been an agitation against gambling recently on the part of both the public and the •press.

ASSISTED IMMIGRANTS

It is the intention of the Hon. John Rigg to move immediately upon the assembling of (he Legislative Council for a return showing the ndmber of assisted immigrants, male and female, who came into the colony during the twelve months ended March 31st last, and subsequently up to the time of the making of the returns, together with the cost of such immigrants to the col any; also a return showing the number of Ohinese, male and female who have arrived in and departed from the colony for the year endea March last and subsequently. Mr Rigg'fl object in asking for these returns is to bring forward a motion in the Council dealing with the two subjects.