MUNICIPAL POLL.

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2429, 7 April 1915, Page 6

MUNICIPAL POLL.

Sir, —It has been pointed out in the Press recently that deputy-returning officers ''are likely to be kept very busy" at the coming municipal election. There is a studied moderation about this statement that must appeal hugely to any unfortunate D.R.O. s who possess a sense of humour. What are the facts? Two years ago there were only four issues to be voted on, instead of five, as now. The D.11.0.'s and their staffs began their day's work at..8.30 a.m. Those in small booths, and. those who counted their votes with a somewhat greater regard to speed than to close acuracy ( finished about 11 p.m. Of the remainder, the last, 1 fancy, finished about 2 a.m., and for such a long day's work, what did they get? Poll clerks, who have no responsibility, recoived £1' los., and D.R.O.'s, who have all the responsibility, received 10s. more. I do not think that 355. is too much for such a long day, even without responsibility. But I do suggest that 10s. more is not sufficient pay _ for' D.R.O.'s, who have the responsibility, and, in Borne cases, an extra responsibility, since in polling stations having more than one D.R.0., one of them is also in general charge of all. Surely it is hign time that the pay cf these officers should be increased. It could be graded according to number of votes polled, and a D.R.O. in charge should receive 'Something oxtra, say a maximum of £4 4s. in all. At Home, where money goes half as far again as here, a D.R.O. receives £2 2s. for 12 hours' work, and he has no counting to do. Our City Council is not usually a "sweater" of labour, but in this particular instance it goes so near to it that tlie difference is not lioticeable. Those City Councillors in favour of non-sweated labour "one pace to the front."—l am, etc., LIVE AND LET LIVE. April 6, 1915.