POLLING BOOTH

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4492, 15 November 1922, Page 2

POLLING BOOTH

DRILL HALL SELECTED. PROTEST AGAINST ALTERATION. At Mr Poland's meeting last evening the Mayor infprmed the gathering that the Electoral Department had approved pf the removal pf the polling bobth frpm the Central Theatre to the Drill Hall, for the coming ecction.. His Worship considered it was certainly not. in the interests of the people that the change should be given effect to. Representations had been made to Mr H. B. Woods, lessee of the theatre,, pointing ou.t to him that the Government objected to the theatre as a polling booth on the grounds that the rent charged last election was top high, and the DrLl Hall could be used free of charge. Mr Woods, oh Jehrning this .very generously offered the theatre for the purpose free of: charge, but, continued His' Worship, it was most unfair to expect Mr Woods to do this ; thie Department should be prepared to pky a reasonable price. In view of the central position of the theatre, and that it was so situated as to make the control of vehicular traffic on polling day a safe and simple undertaking, he thought the meeting should decidedly protest, against the altera-

tion , , ■ Mr W. Marshall moved: That this large representative body of Ohinemuri electors strongly protests against the unnecessary Proposal on the part of the -electoral officers to remove the polling booth from the Central Theatre to tjie the Drill Ha,ll, and that this resolution be telegraphed to the Prime Minister to-morrow morning.” This was seconded by Mr W. TL Taylor, who said he strongly objected to the alteration, and pointed put to the meeting that were the drill hall to he used for the purpose it would be necessary to close the school owing to the traffic in the vicinity of: the school being a very serious source of danger to the children. The motion was carried unanimously. PROTEST UPHELD. Prior to the meeting telegrams had been forwarded to the Prime Minister by the Paeroa Chamber of Commerce and the committees of the various factions taking an interest, in the election. Replies have been received by Mr Alien’s committee,, and the Chamber of Commerce that instructions had been issued for the polling booth to be at the Theatre instead of the Drill- Hall.