WELLINGTON TOPICS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 May 1927, Page 4

WELLINGTON TOPICS

ELECTION METHODS

VOTE COUNTING*

[Special to “ Guartftin.”)

WELLINGTON, May 6,

The substitution of one system for another in marking of voting papers appears to have occasioned a great deal of confusion and delay wherever large numbers of votes had to he recorded. The Wellington returning officer, after a long day at the bootiis and a weary night at tlie recount, denounced the return to the old “ erasure 11 svstem as a colossal Idundci. to a large number of eases, lie said, with his labours over, electors took fully a quarter of an hour to record their votes, and in some eases much longer. With a large number of candidates on the ballot papers electors unaccustomed co the new process, as they were bound to he, counted up the names again and again to make sure they had not erased too few. The system of marking the names of the candidate it was desired to support, the returning officer declared, was much the simpler of the two and therefore the more likely to give accurate results. Had there been heavy polling last week either the whole of the machinery at the larger booths would have broken down, or thousands of electors would have been disfranchised through their inability to reach the ballot box. KI ,E( TO It AI. RF.FOR M.

The mention of proportional representation by the returning officer at Christchurch in connection with the unsatisfactory polling conditions there, comes opportunely enough since Sir Francis Hell, who is to resume his old position as leader of the Legislative Council, is the author of the Act. held in suspense since the days <>l the National (lovenimsnt, applying this method of election to the nominated branch of the Legislature. It is being assumed, without any definite authority, that Sir Francis still is a firm believer in proportional representation for the Council and that lie will take no steps to remove the iioimaiit Act from the Statute Book. ft this icalle is the attitude he maintains towards the measure it is quite within the range of possibility that be will give Parliament another opportunity to discuss its provisions. ’1 he measure represents tlie greatest achievement of his long political career and tiieie aie many members in both Houses who would give it their support il only out of regard lor its author, its passage, apart from the authority and dignity it would give to the revising chamber, would be a particularly appropriate tribute to the genius and public services of one of the 'nominion’s foremost sons. “ UNSCRUPULOUS TACTICS.”

Under this startling headline with several subsidiary ' L scares ” and a. generously enlarged photograph 'LI a detached end of an Argentine butterbox, the 11 Dominion ” published yesterday an indict ment by Mr S. T. Paviour-Smitli, a representative of the Anglo-Continental Produce Company, against the commercial morality of some party, as yet unknown, in using the- word “ Zcaland*ia. ” in very large letters to commend a South American product to liritish consumers. Mr Paviour Smith had obtained the but-ter-box end from an employee of bis company who had secured it in London and brought it to New Zealand to seewhat action could be taken to prevent snob encroachments upon tlie Dominion’s preserves. Mr Paviour-Smitli himself has no doubt that, the use of the word “ Zeahindia ” was associated with “ a deliberate attempt to capture the New Zealand market in Kngland Senor Pidiuie. the Argentine Consul stationed in Wellington, a veritable Aglophobo in both his private and official capacity, when seen yesterday morning said lie had no wish to mc.be light of the incident. It had disturbed him very greatly. Tint be was iorwarding ui'geut representations to bis (government and he had no doubt- tooy would receive immediate attention. Meanwhile be Was quite sure no such impropriety as hud been suggested would bo countenanced by I lie Argentine authorities. MIX ISTKR T AI. SI I.EXC'K.

The “ Tivoiiing Post” deplore*! the, other (lay the long sustained silent e <d Ministers in regard to. matters upon which the public should he inionned. “ There has not been nearly enough public speaking by responsible ministers of the Crown, ’’ it complained. “ The Prime Minister has done bis best in the hectic rush that lias 1 allowed bis return, lint his colleagues ('except for the addresses given at small local gatherings') have failed to take the platform. The Labour Party loses no opportunity of stating its rase. The people, being fair-minded, know that there is another side, but tliev have no opportunity of bearing il. Mr Townie Stewart is fully competent to state that other side convincingly; lmt we hope that his Feilding effort will not he the end as well as the beginning of the Government s elide,nour to take the people into its confidence.” There is a good deal of sound ground for the evening journal’s complaint. but the Minister of Finance may be trusted to make amends at Feilding on Monday for his long silence and to encourage bis diffident col16'ngues also to admit the public to their confidence.