LOCAL ELECTIONS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19180, 10 December 1927, Page 9

LOCAL ELECTIONS.

INCREASED CHARGES

HARBOUR BOARD'S COMPLAINT

.Regarding the complaint made at this week's meeting of the Lyttelton Harbour Board as to the increase in its proportion of the cost of the election ill April last— X.-I2 l 2 in 192.1, and £729 in 1927—the municipal authorities made the following statement yestcrdav:

Comparison of cost of certain items (shillings and pence omitted*):— 1027. 192.3.

Kit tin-;. dismantling. and lighting booths .. 402 24-3 (Increase due to larger number of polling booths. ■ and repairs to boxes.) Substitute Returning Otlieer's fees .. .. \i\r> 1.37 Stationery, postages, etc. .. s;i 90 Advertising . . .. i'jt Hi Itesult board .. .. 14 Hi Taxi hire .. .. 22 10 Clerical and other assistance .. .. 101 35 (This item shows an increase because in past years the cost of preparing for the elections, and preparing deputy returning officers' boxes was not included in the total apportioned, though it, should have been.) Harbour Board expenses compare, as follows (shillings and pence omitted): — 1927. .1925. £ £ Deputies and poll clerks 273 147 (Increase occasioned by the larger number of polling booths and increase in fees paid to depulics and poll clerks. In 192-3 there were .30 deputies at £1 l-"s each, and 50 poll clerks at 20s. Nine deputies took two issues only, half fee being charged to the Board; nine took •t issues; a quarter charged Board. In 1927: 70 deputies .at £2 2s each; 77 poll clerks nt, £1 10s each. Nine deputies rind 2 poll clerks took 2 issues.) Polling papers and cables 38 24 Advertising (Harbour Board ouly) •• 21 "13 "Recount . • .. 3fi 27 Roll ... •■ HO 50 (This increase is caused by the great rise in the cost of printing the roll. In 1925 the roll cost £741 5s Gd; in 1927, £1204 15s 6d. The larger number of rolls required for the Harbour Board is also responsible for the larger charge to the Board.) Marking rolls for polling booths' •• ..13 6