VOTING BY CROSS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5005, 26 July 1926, Page 4

VOTING BY CROSS.

PROCEDURE AT LOCALJILECTIONS

ABOLISHMENT PROPOSED.

The Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. R. F, Bollard) announced at the New Zealand Counties,’ Conference at Wellington last week that he proposed, if opportunity offered, to bring down an amending Bill during the present session providing, among other things, that the system of voting by means, of. a cross be abolished, and that the system in vogue in Parlimentary elections, of stinking out the name of the candidate or proposal adopted instead. ‘‘After all,” said the Minister, “there is some satisfaction in striking out the name of .the man you don’t want.” It was also proposed, Mr Bollard explained, to make provision for voting by declaration in cases, where the name of a person had bee.n inadvertently omitted from the roll. Representations had been made from time to time that some provision should be enacted to enable absent voters to record their, votes, but so far no suggestion had been submitted tha,t would allow of the preservation of the secrecy of the ballot. “I do not propose, at all events at present, he added, “proceeding further with this matter especially as the Municipal Conference has indicated that it is opposed to any such proposal.”