View report page

24
to whether or not the limitation which restricted the rate
to one halfpenny in the £ should be removed. The Clerk
to the Board was appointed Presiding Officer for the purpose
of taking the poll, and the result was as follows:—
The number of voting papers issued, corresponding
with the number of voters on the
register, was 6,723
The number of persons voting “Yes” in favour
of the existing limitation of the rate under
the Public Libraries Act, 1892, being removed
was 1,130
The number of persons voting “No ”against
the removal of the existing limitation was 1,100
The number of invalid voting papers was as
follows:—
Marked “Yes” in favour of the removal of the
limitation 100
Marked “No” gainst the removal of the
limitation 108
Papers irregularly filled up 37
Number of papers not filled up 2,054
Number of papers not returned 2,194
Total 6,723
It will thus be seen that out of an electorate of 6,723,
only 2,475 persons took the trouble to fill up and return
their voting papers, and of these no less than 245 were
irregularly marked.
The result was that the limitation was removed, and the
Commissioners are now entitled to levy a rate of not exceeding
1d. in the £.