LOCAL ELECTIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 July 1940, Page 4

LOCAL ELECTIONS

QUESTION OF POSTPONEMENT REFERRED BACK BY MINISTER TO ASSOCIATIONS. The question as to whether local body elections falling due in May next year should be postponed was considered at the last meeting of the executive committee of the Municipal Association, said the Mayor of Masterton, Mr T. Jordan, who is president of the Association, this morning, when referring to a statement by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, that he was seeking the opinion of local body associations on the matter. Mr Jordan added that at the executive meeting it was felt that an early decision by the Government was desirable, so that, if the elections were to be postponed, it would save local bodies needless expense. It was pointed out that under the Statutes’ Amendment Act of last session the Government could, by Or-der-In-Council postpone local body elections for a period not exceeding one year. The executive did not feel disposed to express any decision on the matter in view of the position of its members, and it was agreed to ask the Minister if the Government proposed to extend the life of local bodies or not, and to advise the Association as soon as possible. As the' result of that, the Minister had now asked local body associations to express an opinion on the matter, at the same time expressing his personal opinion that the elections should be postponed. Mr Jordan said the secretary of the Municipal Association had been requested to circularise the members of the executive committee of the Association with a view to securing their views and at the same time he was keeping in close touch with the Counties Association. A statement by the Minister of Internal Affairs on the subject of local body elections appears on’page 8.