MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1941, Page 8

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

TO BE HELI) ON MaV 17 POSITION Or STATE TENANTS. MINISTERIAL STATEMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.! WELLINGTON. This Day. Certain phases of the law relating to local body elections, including provision for them to be held in the future on a Saturday, are to be dealt with by legislation to be introduced in Parliament shortly, according to an announcement by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Parry, yesterday. Mr Parry said that under the present law practically all locals body elections were fixed for the second Wednesday in May triennially. Normally this year the elections would fall on Wednesday. May 14. In view of the Government’s decision, however, the elections would not now be held till the following Saturday, that is May 17. "Another important matter which the contemplated legislation will deal with is that of voting by State tenants." Mr Parry said. "The Government, as a matter of policy, has virtually decided to pay rates to the local bodies in respect of State houses. Where the State houses are situated in boroughs, the tenants have a.vote by virtue of residential qualification, but they cannot vote on loan or rating proposals. In counties and other rural districts they cannot vote at all.