STATE TENANTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 73, 27 March 1941, Page 5

STATE TENANTS

VOTING ON LOANS

PROVISION DELETED

POLLING HOURS

Amendments made to the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill by the Local Bills Committee remove the proposal that tenants of State houses should have the right to vote on loan proposals, and fix the hours, as well as the time, for local body elections. The report of the committee was adopted when the Bill was reported back to the House yesterday. The Bill is being considered by the House this afternoon.

The clause providing that tenants of State houses should have full voting rights at local elections and polls was amended so that it now allows such tenants to vote at any local body elec- : tions but prohibits them from exercising a vote on any proposal relating to loans or rates.

The fact that the name of a State tenant has been entered on any list or roll of electors or ratepayers is to be indicated opposite the name. The granting of voting rights does not impose any liability on a State tenant for the payment of rates.

A clause added to the Bill by the Committee provides that the poll at every election shall begin at 9 a.m. and close at 6 p.m., as provided in the principal Act. All Orders in Council issued under the main Act are revoked, but power is taken to make other Orders in Council.