MUNICIPAL ROLLS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2198, 10 July 1914, Page 9

MUNICIPAL ROLLS.

■ + SUGGESTED. IMPROVEMENTS. .RETURNING!,'OFFICERS REPORT. A report from tho Returning Officer (Mr. J. Ames) on tho subject of compilation of clectoial rolls was laid be"oro tho City ' Council at its , meeting last night, and it was decided'to forward the suggestions contained in tlio report < to tho Municipal Conference for confcideration., The report uas as follows: , —"Since the election of.Mayor, held in April last, I have given *omo consideration to the question of tho compilation of the'municipal roll. I think tho present system or enrolment could be very much improved. Tho' present practico ?f handinc out thousands of forms to irresponsible persons is, to my mind, a very great,mistake, and should bo discontinued, as fifty per cent, of tho forms never come back. It is not only costly, but in numbeis of cases forms

filled up at street corners are full of , errors'. I would suggest that the ; municipal roll should bo piepared somewhat on/ the Census principle Tho council should sot up- a department to be called tho Electoral Department. An electoral officer should bo appointed and placed in chargo of the rolls, and be responsible- for samo. Tho City should bo divided into blocks. Responsible men should be appointed to distribute forms of enrolment at each house —late, he ehould call back, and see that they arc properly filled up, collect same, and foiward them to the electoral officor. Tho council may be under -the impression that tho proposal will be costly, but I ventuio to think it will cost.less than the present system, and I am sure will bo a much more correct roll. The present'- cost to the council for printing Tolls is 19s. per ' page, about 75 namesT In addition to this, there is the cost of clerical assistanco in preparing cards for tho,printer, and if the number on the roll was reduced by. ten thousand, that moans a \ery large amount will be saved. Something, I think, on the principle 1 havo suggested would be an improvement. I would ask Your Worship and the members of the council to fiivo this matter < their consideration. The Town Clerk , would still be in charge of the roll.'