UNWIELDY ELECTIONS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 222, 13 June 1919, Page 6

UNWIELDY ELECTIONS

RETURNING OFFICER'S REPORT "TIME FOR A CHANGE TO TAKE PLACE" At the meeting of the City Council last evening Mr. James Ames (Chief Eeturning Officer) reported on the recent elections as follows:— "Now that the municipal elections are over I desire most respectfully to call your attention to the fact that in mv opinion the time has arrived for soma change to take place in.the maw.tr of conducting municipal elections. 1 fool that it has grown to an alarming extent, so much so that it has become unwieldy and requires tho council's attention. 1 had to trust to the work of thirty or forty irresponsible officers going top speed and working night and day for eight day« to reach the result.

"In my opinion this city should be cut up into about fivo electorates, and I consider that the electors should only bo calle'd upon to elect the Mayor anci councillor's on tho one day, the Harbour Board to undertake the conducting oi" their own elections. With respect to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, I think the -council, being the electors' financial representatives, should nominate the board, and thus, inter alia, save tile cost of the election and obviate an additional confusion issue on election day.

"I am inclined to think that a great improvement could be made in connection with the compiling of the municipal roll. It is to my- mind a mistake to giro out hundreds of roll forms to a number of irresponsible persons. I suggest that tho names of voters should bo collected somewhat on the principle of obtaining the cinsus by responsible officers appointed by the Town Clerk. It would be a great boon if wo could uso tho Parliamentary roll for municipal elections. "At the present time we rise tho Government valuation.roll to compile our rate books, and there does not seem any valid reason why. with the widened municipal franchise, the electoral roll should not. be used for municipal elections." On' the motion of the Mayor a committee consisting of the Mayor, Councillors Eraser, Dale, Luckie, and AVrigbt was appointed to wait oh the Returning Officer to go into the whole of the matter embodied in the report.