ON ELECTION DAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19436, 23 October 1925, Page 10

ON ELECTION DAY

SHOULD TEACHERS BE RETURNING OFFICERS? SHOULD SCHOOLS BE POLLING BOOTHS? EDUCATION BOARD SAYS NO The question of the use of school buildings for electoral business was discussed at Wednesday night’s meeting of the Wanganui Education Board. In this connection the Education Department advised that it was hoped to avoid the use of school buildings on election days, more especially in the <rity arelas. Mr W. F. Durward objected to schools being used for such a purpose, and said he was surprised to find that school buildings could be used upon three days’ notice being given. The chairman (Mr W. .Collins) remarked that the Education Act in this respect could be overridden. The ‘local returning officer applied for the assistance of two local school teachers on election day, but the request was refused. In supporting the application, Mr J. (Aitken said that teachers made very [suitable returning officers. Mr Durward said teachers were ‘suitable for their own department and they should attend to it. Ho added that it was only to save the Electoral Department expense that the schools "were closed on election days, and for 'that reason thousands of children were deprived of education. The board ■should set their faces against the practice. The children and teachers were far better at school. A member pointed out that on the Main Trunk the committees proposed to close the schools on election day. He was satisfied that more than half of the country schools would take a holiday. The chairman said that the board had taken up the attitude that the schools should not be closed. There was no reason why the hoard should give an additional holiday. Mr Aitken considered the resolution refusing permission to the teachers to act as deputy-returning officers was both arbitrary and cruel. Ho maintained that teachers could do as they desired when there was a holiday. The secretary explained that teachers had been advised that they could ac/ whore schools were closed. Mr Birnie was of the opinion that that was the proper attitude. It was agreed to notify the returning officer at Foxton and Hawera that there was no reason why school building should be used las polling booths

when there wore public, halls and other suitable buildings available.