RIVER TRUST.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18896, 11 January 1927, Page 8

RIVER TRUST.

THE WAIMAKARIBI.

TODAY'S ELECTION

QUALIFICATIONS OF VOTERSThroughout the Waimakariri JUver Trust's area ratepayers w»U T«>« cord their votes in the triennial election of Commissioners, of whom eight «re required. j One of the sitting Commisiquers, James Leslie, was declared elected unopposed for the West subdivision, Two of the retiring Commissioners, Messrs F. G. Horreil and H. E. Peryroan, are not seeking re-eleetion. Nominations received are *'#*% retiring Commissioners.' being indicated by an asterisk ;<--■ Christehurch. SubdivisionSir Franeis Boys. Kiehard John Bickertou Pilley. James Arthur Flejher. Frederick Willie Freeman. George Gould. 'Alfred Manhire. Daniel Giles Sullivan. William Bisnels Winsor. (Four to be elected.) Waimalcariri E&9t auhdivjajpn. "William Pritehard. Spencer. George Witty. (One ta be elected.) Waimakarirt West Strtjflivjsion. * James Leslie. (Elected unopposed.) Eyre Subdivision. 'Richard Orme Piicon, Franklin Link Wright. (One to be elected.) Oust Subdivision. Howell Edward Evans. Gordon Wolseley Wright. (One to be elected.) Heavy Poll Expected. In view of the public interest, it i? &%■ peoted that to-day'a poll will be the heaviest since the Trust wag constituted. Definite <'tickets" have been adopted, and candidates have acquaint? Ed ratepayers with their views through the newspapers and the mails. The predominant issue at to-day's election will be the carrying out of the Trust 'a eanr trol scheme without the obtaining pf further engineering advice, or its postponement until the views of an outside expert, or experts, are obtainable. The district is very large, extending from Oxford to the sea, There are 67 polling-booths. The returning officer (Mr C. W. Harvey) has taken all po«sible measures to ensure that his depUf ties will be acquainted with voter?' qualifications. Voting by declaration will bo allowed in the case of those whose names ara not on the roll, hut Only when they have purchased or leased property, or have actually paid rates, qr have received, or are in possession of, rate demands |rom the local body concerned. • A ratepayer's wife may not vote, unless she has qualified to do so by tfc© ownership of property in her own fight. One vote in allowed ratepayers who possess property valued up to £IOOO, two for property assessed between £IOOO and £2OOO, and a maximum of three for owners of property valued at over £2OOO. This system of plural voting is permitted by a qualification in the Eiver Boards Act. Bolls and Votos. There aro three rolls in Wajniakariri East, these being the Seathcote County, Waimairi County, and New Brighton Borough roils. Ratepayers gfeou}d en? sure that they record their xnasiniuW. number of votes. If they own properties in the three areas named they are entitled td have their value totalled, and cast their votes accordingly. Strict instructions have been issued to deputyreturning officers to give effect to these provisions in such cases. Batepayers may vote pnly in the district in which their property is situated, except that those who find it ineqnve» nient to do so may record their choice in a booth to be ereeted on the vacant section next to the "Sub" office, in Worcester street. Fersohe who have property in two or more of the Trust'« districts must either travel to booths in each of the localities, or else record their total number of votes at the booth mentioned above. Following are the number of rater payers and the total votes recordable by them in the four district* in which there will he an election flub? division: Batepayers 375, votes recordable 826; Oust: 1176,1893; WaUnaHariri E,ast: 6028, 8140; City: 19,731, 36,420. First Election.

The first election of Commissioner* was held in May, 1923, in Wet weather. This and other factors were sible for delays, and it was not Until after 10 p.m. that the result wa» known, On this occasion it is hoped to have the count sufficiently far advanced to allow the result to be announced by 7.50 p.m, It is anticipated that the representatives of the candidates at the various polling booths will be able to render voters considerable assistance in ascertaining their qualifications. Mr Hervey 6ajd yesterday that the election, including the preparation of the rolls, would cost about £ISOO. If a scheme could be evolved whereby one roll could be used by local bodies for all ejections a considerable saving would be effected.

The polling places for the election are as advertised.

The polling hours will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Altered Boundaries,

Since the previojw election the «m« stitution of the Trust and its boundarie« have been considerably altered, The Trust formerly consisted of eight Commissioners, two of whom were elected by the ratepayers in the area north of the river, and four by the rate, payers in the area south of the river. The two other Commissioners, one of whom was the chairman, were appointed by the Government. "Under the new constitution the Trust will consist of ten Commissioners, eight of whom are elected by the ratepayers and two are appointed by the Government. The old boundaries are abolished, and entirely new boundaries have been defined, the City of Christchurch and the Borough of Eiccarton, which formerly were in the southern subdivision, being constituted a separate subdivision, returning four Commissioners. The Eyre and Oust subdivision comprise only areas north of the riveT, and the Waimakariri East and "Waimakariri West subdivisions include email areas north of the river. The east subdivision includes the south-east portion of the Eyre County (outside the Byre special loan area), on the north bank, and the Borough of New Brighton and the Counties of Waimairi and Heathcote (excluding the portion on the hills) on the south banjj. The west enbdto. «°n includes the'south-west portion of the Eyre County and the southeast portion of the Oxford County, on the north bank, and parts of the Counties of Malvern, Springs, Paparua, and Halswell, on the south bank,