MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18403, 9 June 1925, Page 8

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

THE RECENT POLLING.

AN INFORMATIVE REPORT. An informative report relating to the polling in. the recent Municipal Election's was presented to the City, Council last niglit by the substitute, returning officer, Mr Albert Freeman. The report, which makes a valuablo contribution to electoral scienco, was as follows: — The issues were:—Election of Mayor, election of sixteen Councillors, ,election of four members of Lyttelton Harbour Board, election of eight members of the North Canterbury Hospital Board. Fifty-nine polling places were provided, of which three wero in the Art Gallery (principal). In all 636 voting compartments wero fitted up (an average of 10.8 per booth). In most cases this fully met requirements, but at Sydenham Park thero wad considerable congestion, due to a much larger vote boing exorcised there than was the case at any previous election. In 1923, 523 votes were recorded at Sydenham Public Library, as against 566 votes at Sydenham Park this poll. Hitherto the Library had beou used, but insufficient floor space there compelled removal, and there can. be no doubt the change to the Park met the popular wish. At future elections better accommodation here will be imperative. There were employed:—23l deputyreturning officers (including four emergencies) t 209 poll clerks, and 15 ushers. This stuff provided at 50 booths a deputy and poll clerk for each issue, and at each of nine small booths threo deputies and one poll clerk. - The results were received at the Council's offices in Manchester street, four telephones being in use. The first return came in at 7.J4 P-nu and the last about 1.30 a.m. (Thursday). On no previous occasion have these coine in so slowly, and the causes are obvious. Firstly, the large number of votes recorded, and, secondly, the timo taken in counting the voting papers for the Councillors' issue. This is tho first occasion in Municipal Elections with the whole city as one electorate, that a poll has been taken under '■ the first past the post system." The counting of these voting papers (on which were the names of 27 candidates ' for 16 vacancies) under this system was very laborious. In a measul-e, I had foreseen the difficulty and arranged for extra assistance at thg busy booths, but those remedial measures were quite inadequate. . In the scrutiny of the rolls and official counts the' staff employe,d averaged 30 in number, and; tho time occupied 45J hours, or say 1373 single hours, allocated as follows:-r-Mayor, 5 hours; Councillors, 22 hours;. Harbour Btfard, 7$ hours; Hospital Board, 11 hours. The staff emjploycd &t the elections (including Loan. Poll) 'num-' bered 25 for 50 hours, or say 1250 single

Of the total quqaber of voting papers issued, 1605 were set aside as informal. Of these 54 per cent, voted for too many candidates; 40 per cent, left;,papers unmarked; 6 per cent, were indofipite. The small perceptage of informal votes is quite a remarkable feature; it is lower than at &ny Municipal Election with which' I have been associated. Some deputies put aside as informal, papers in which voter's intention was indicated by marking out names for which lie did not wish to vote, instead of marking a cross as-directed; the Act provides that where the intension is clear, those votes shall be allowed as valid. In but very few instances was it necessary to declare papers informal which tho deputy had allowed as valid. Cost of . Elections.

It will be noticed that the cost .per 1000 votes decreases in proportion to the increased number recorded. At each election I find it more difficult to obtain suitable buildings for polling booths, which is shown by the fact that I had. to resort to a marquee in 17 places; they were floored and w6ll lighted, but at, best are but a makeshift, and the officers there work under more or -less uncomfortable conditions. P lO wor k °f'tho staff employed I wjsn to speak in the highest terms; all officers were at their allotted posts in ample time for the poll; many of them put m very long hours, and the general average of the \jrork was good. , unfortunately their task Was not wsf'i f ter by D ? an 7 electors waiting until between 6 to 7 p.m. before claimWhot! 1 votes ' and a t some of the booths there were-from 50 to 70 persons to bo attended to, which meant until C 7.10 p!m. V ° teS not Commencc « l of such a lar e e Btaff muchw vi 1630 electious w ouW bo anco d, ® cult but for the assistSartmeL V C T cU ' s . ia all de " tion of vm ii W^'l c°-opera-officers. I pri ? cipal for these valuabfe my noUin &^ k f^ t&Ucd in fittin g U P the haS of Mr vn^ 8 in the ca P» b,c ° f Knirfit 38 as to Mr tho ligh T tin « ereatlv indohtni * nd lnar q«ees, I am SSitf »»k efficiently '(CoattaM

hours. Number of Candidates. 1925 1923 , Candidates. Candidates. Miayofal Issue .! 4 2 Councillors .. 27 31 Hospital Board ..' 14 13 Harbour Board ..7 9 Votes Recorded. Valid Informal. Total 1925 1923 1926. 1923. 1925 1923 Mayors— - 22,626 18,813 319 402 <22,945 19,215' Councillors— 22,448 17,601 367 1,498 23,915. 19,093 HoepiUl Board— 22,384 v 17,040 393 1,562 22,7ft 18,603 Harbour Boqrd— , 22,363 16,526 426 1,646 22,789 18,171 89,821- 69,980 1,605 . 5,107~ 91,426 75,087 Informal Votes. . 1925. 1923, percent, percent. Mayor ' .. 1.4 , 2.1 Councillors .. 2.04 8.0 Hospital Board 1.72 8.4 Harbour Board 1.87 • 9.0

1925. 1923. Officers £ 6. d. £ s. d. 635 5 0 734 12 G Polling places. Lire, fitting lighting, etc. 349 10 5. 349 1 10 Stationery, poatages, telephones, results; board, and requisites .. 103 6 9 82 18 0 Voting pupers. labels. etc. 94 12 3 151 10 0 Taxi hire .. 9 12 0 17 8 6 Advertising 62 3 6 127 6 3 Official counts .. 168 10 0 166 10 P , £1422 19 11 £1629 2 1 Cost of Election, 1923, per 1000 votes recorded .. £18 13 4 Cost of Elections, 1925; per 1000 votes recorded .. 15 11 0 Cost of Official Count, 1923, (including Loan Poll), per 1000 votes recorded 41 i Cost of Official Count, 1925, per.. 1000 recorded Ti . !ti . . votes •• 36 2