WISE SUGGESTIONS.

Shannon News, 22 June 1923, Page 4

WISE SUGGESTIONS.

The Te Puke Town Board has decided to forward the following remits to « the Municipal Conference:—(l) That ! the system of voting by means of a cross on a ballot papfc* be done' away with; (2) That in order-dfo obviate candidates for a Mayoralty' '(who ' are unsuccessful) being debarred from con- j testing the election for a' s’eat on' the council, a separate date be fixed for the Mayoralty - election, or Mayors should be elected by members of ; the Council. These - two matters, are well worthy of careful'''consideration: As regards the system of voting,” we think public opinion is almost unanimously in favour of the old style", viz.,, striking out the name - of the candidate, or issue, not wanted.' The present-sys-tem of using crosses is somewhat confusing, and leads to mistakes occurring. A timid or inexperiene'ed voter : May easily think, despite the printed ‘ instructions, that the cross set opposite a person’s name means'that that--pci- 1 - son is not wanted, and thus the voter ’s intention is negatived. To cross out .what is not wanted is the obvious, comuionrense method' - of voting,-under which very few mistakes are likely to‘ occur, and the amendment suggested by the Te Puke Town ’Board will find ready support from the great' majority' of local body representatives. The other subject of remit will also find many supporters. In many boroughs—and this applies to smaller towns- 1 in particular—there are sometimes two or three aspirants for • the Mayoralty, these probably being among the very best men, municipally; in the town: With the election of councillors and Mayor taking place on the same date, as at present provided by law, the undefeated Mayoral candidate or candidates cannot contest seats on the Council, and their services are thus lost to the Council and the community. By this mean’s our Borough Councils' are frequently deprived of the services of some of the very best civic workers.If the election of Mayor were held, say a month or so earlier than the polls for Councillors, a defeated Mayoral candidate could contest the Council election. The only objection to this course is on the score of expense of another election, but that is not very great; and in the opinion of many, is more than compensated for by . the advantages derived. These matters will doubtless be fully considered at the ' forthcoming Municipal Conference.