THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service." FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1944. LOCAL ELECTIONS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32414, 31 March 1944, Page 4

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is Incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY. “Public Service." FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1944. LOCAL ELECTIONS

Why the Government should insist upon the urgent passage of the Local Elections and Polls Amendment Bill in the face of strong opposition has puzzled many people. The desire was, of course, to have the legislation in operation for the local body elections in May, but according to returning officers and others there is a probability of utter confusion on that election day if the amended law is applied. One returning officer has stated that in his district it would' be necessary to consult as many as 18 rolls to establish a person’s eligibility to cast a vote for candidates for many bodies. In other cases the returning officer would have to rely largely on his own local knowledge to decide the legality of a vote. Apart from the confusion that will arise from the use of the Parliamentary rolls to establish residential qualification,. other important principles are involved, including the qualification of a local body employee other than the clerk, town clerk, engineer, secretary, manager or other principal officer, to become a member of that local body. Even if the members of the Government fully realise the implications of the measure it is certain that the public does not. Local authorities throughout the country have made urgent representation that the Bill be delayed until its meaning and results can be clarified. If the Government had decided some time ago, which it surely must have done, to introduce the Bill, the reasonable course would have been to submit the proposals to those most intimately concerned so that the obvious difficulties could have been surmounted. As it is, evidence is to be taken during Parliamentary sitting days, in the present week, and many members who wish to take part in important debates in the House will be debarred from doing so by their committee commitments. One of the reasons given by the Government for the use of the Parliamentary roll for local elections is that it will give the right to vote to men returning to New Zealand, but those who are still overseas will not be entitled to vote, so that the anomaly will not wholly be removed. It can only be hoped that the evidence taken in committe will convince the Government that it would be inviting trouble to force the measure through the House so precipitately.