TIME OFF FOR VOTING AT MUNICIPAL POLLS

Chronicle (Levin), 22 October 1947, Page 6

TIME OFF FOR VOTING AT MUNICIPAL POLLS

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, Ocf. 21. An obligatiou on employers to give llie:r employeos time olf to vote in lo-ai body elections, is established by a chiuse iu tlie Local Elections and PoU> A.nieiidment Bill introrluceil in tlie lloase of Hepresentatives today. Tlie Minister of lnternal Alfairs. ilon. M . E. 1'arry, said this was in ac.-oi-Iance with tlie procedure followed at ; he I'arliameutarv elections. The Bill states that every employer shall aiiow every worker in his eni- . plovineiit who is an elector of tlie dis-trij-t in whiclian election is being helil. to leave his work for tlie ])urpose of r cord.ing his vote not later than ; ..111., for the rest of the day. No de-dui-tiou sli 11 l)e made from tlie ranui n eratioii of tlie worker. If a worker ;s required to work after 3" p.m. ou poi 1iug day to carry on any essential work or service for his employer, he inust be allo.ved to leave his work for a reasonaiile 1 iiee during the day in order to record his vote. No deduetiou shall 1 e liiinii' from his remuneratioii for anv t niie he is auav from work tliat day uot evceeding two liours. An einployi r who fails to cfmiply with these oblig'ilions will be l'iable to a line not e;cceeding' £5. Another clatise authorises scrutineers lo be present at the counting of decla •- atiou v.iles. Tliere is also a" clau. e wiibdi will enable a blind or illiterate \oler lo ask for the assistance of a coiupauioii in niarkiug his ballot pajier. Alr. I'arry said tliere was a elause iu tiie Bill which gave voting rights to |)iop!e lix ing in an elecloral " no^nian 's land" between the Auckland Hospital and Auckland Doiuaiu. People living in this area liad no vote and it seemed odd that this anonialy liad not been' reclilied bel'ore. Tlie Bill was reforred to Ihe local hills foiuniittoo.