NAPIER PETITION

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 70, 24 March 1933, Page 13

NAPIER PETITION

COMMISSIONER CONTROL

NO ELECTION ANNULMENT

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

NAPIEB, March 23,

The main topic in Napier this week has been the probable success of the petition to the Prime Minister urging the retention of' commissioner .control for at least twelve months after the municipal elections on May 3.

This petition was sent to Wellington tonight and the question in the minds of a good many people now is, "In the event of the Governor-General acceding to the plea of the petitioners, Will this annul the coming elections in so far as they apply to the appointment ot Mayor and councillors?" The answer is "No."

A good many rumours have been current since the circulation of the petition. Especially was it urged by certain people that the principal effect of the Order in Council extending the Commissioner's term of office would be the disfrauchisement of electors. Investigation shows this to be quite contrary to fact. The Municipal Corporations Act (1920) clearly indicates that whether or not the petitioners ara successful in their prayer, a new council must be elected sis weeks from now.

The petition has 2152 signatures inscribed upon it, fully-representative of the people of Napier.. The committee of citizens who controlled the publication of this petition are well pleased with the result of the canvass* and when Mr. M. S. Spence left Napier tonight with tho .documents in his possession the hope was expressed that his mission to Wellington would bear good fruit.

iOn Saturday morning Mr. Spence will present the petition to the Prime Minister, who; after due consideration, will convey to the GovernorGeneral an opinion of the merit of the petition.