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Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1310, 18 June 1880, Page 2

There' was one matter in connection with the late election that forced itself upon our notice and to which we think it well to revert briefly. We refer to the want of a second polling place for the town. Anyone who was at the Courthouse on Wednesday as the hour for closing the poll "approached must have been convinced > that the number of electors in the town has now outgrown the accommodation provided for the recording of votes. . The result of this want of sufficient accommodation was the cause of a considerable number of voters being precluded from exercising their rights. Of course , this difficulty might have been obviated had the electors polled steadily throughout the day, and had not so many deferred voting until late in the afternoon. It is however impossible to induce many people to act up to the injunction given by election Committees to their friends to " poll early," and the result is that there are always to be found numbers who, as the time for closing the poll approaches, through the pressure at the polling place find themselves " a day after the fair." Many others, particularly working men, are able only to poll during one hour of the day—during their dinner hour—and the difficulty that numbers then experience in recording their votes within the time allowed them to return to their work, results in their not voting at all. Much of this difficulty will, however, be obviated by the extension of the time during which votes may be recorded from four to six o'clock, as proposed by the measure now before the House of Representatives, but even then the difficulty will not be entirely overcome, for the majority of those who are engaged during the day will almost for a certainty postpone voting until their work is completed, and thus there will probably be even a greater rush of voters during the last hour. We deem it well to call attention to this matter because we know that on Wednesday many were unable to gain admission to the Courthouse in time to record their votes. Besides this, it must be apparent to everyone that the number of electors will still further increase, and this increased number will necessitate increased facilities. The matter is not one of a pressing nature, but we nevertheless hope that it will not be lost sight of in the future.