RECORD POLL FOR WANGANUI LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS EXPECTED

Wanganui Chronicle, 8 September 1950, Page 4

RECORD POLL FOR WANGANUI LOCAL BODY ELECTIONS EXPECTED

“Unless there are extraordinary circumstances, there should be a record poll at this year’s local body elections in Wanganui,” said the Returning Officer, Mr. C. R. White, yesterday. He pointed out that although a heavy poll was expected, experience in past years had shown much depended on the state of the weather on polling day. Mr. White said the proposed change in the polling day from Wednesday, November 15, to Saturday, November 18, should be of assistance in obtaining responsible polling clerks and deputy-returning officers. The change would make little difference in the securing of suitable polling places because this year they would mostly be situated in halls in the suburbs. The business premises used in former years were really too cramped for the size of the staff needed at each polling place. In line with former years, the principal polling booth will be in the Drill Hall. In the suburbs, however, some changes are planned to provide greater convenience for the voters. Booths will be open from 9 am. to 7 pm on polling day .

Polling this year will be on five issues—the Mayoralty, 12 City Councillors, six city representatives on the Harbour Board, five on the Wanganui Hospital Board, and four on the Wanganui-Rangitikei Electric Power Board. No information is so far available on the possibility of a loan poll.

Provided their names are included in the municipal roll, all persons who have attained the age of 21 years and who have spent the three months prior to the poll in the district, and the last year in the Dominion, are eligible to record their votes in the election of the local bodies. Only those whose names are included in the municipal roll as ratepayers and holders of freehold property will be able to vote on any loan proposals, however.

Mr. White pointed out. that ratepayers and freeholders were automatically included in the poll, but that all other persons had a duty to see their names were listed. The fact that, their names appeared in the dintriet Parliamentary roll did not. mean they V.d been included in the municipal roll. which was the only one used lor deciding who was eligible to vote in the local body elections.

The main municipal roll closed on July 3.1 and is now in the hands of the printer, said Mr. White. As soon as it. is available, however, he intends placing copies in conveniently placed business houses so that, people will have the opportunity of ascertaining whether their names have been included. If not, they must, under law, enrol before the supplementary roll closes on Friday, October 20. The main roll comes into effect on October 1. In compiling the main roll the Reluming Officer’s staff have actually done more toward seeing that it is a full list of electors than is required by legislation. From the registrars of electors at Wanganui and Palea the names of eligible persons have been gathered and listed. The roll has also been fully purged of those who do not now hold any of the qualifications necessary for enrolment. If the new legislation is enacted the closing date for nominations of candidates for this year’s elections will be Friday. October 27 —22 days before the poll, if the former act is still in lorce, however, nominations will close 21 days before the poll. “All eligible should take the opportunity of electing their representatives on the local bodies," said Mr. White. “We have done all we can to see that, as many eligible persons as possible have been enrolled. Now it. is up to them to fulfil their obligations on polling day/’