The Corporation of Hamilton finally bowed to pressure yesterday and granted The Royal Gazette permission to see the official list of who is entitled to vote and stand for election in the city.

This newspaper has been trying to get access to the municipal register for two weeks, making five attempts in total to view it.

All of our requests were ignored until we informed the Corporation's public relations company Troncossi that we intended to run a story today about our efforts.

At 5.10 p.m. yesterday afternoon, Troncossi rang to tell us that Corporation Secretary Kelly Miller apologised for not responding, had been "very sick and very busy" and could let us see the register on Monday morning.

Earlier, we had spoken to retired Corporation of Hamilton Secretary Roger Sherratt who said he was "stunned" at the difficulty we had.

Mr. Sherratt, Secretary between 1992 and 2004, said: "There is no way that you can't see that register. I'm stunned that they would even think of not letting you see it.

"The law requires that it be available. Anybody can go and see the register. I have never heard of it not being available."

The Municipalities Act 1923 — which governs the Corporation — states that: "Any person, on payment to the secretary of a fee of one dollar for each inspection, may at any reasonable time inspect the municipal register and take extracts therefrom."

On February 14, we sent our first request in an e-mail and left a voice message for Ms Miller. We received no reply and sent another e-mail on February 18, followed by a third the next day. Both were ignored.

Last Friday, a reporter went to City Hall and asked again to see the register. A member of staff advised us that it was "under lock and key" and told us to give her a handwritten request to pass to Ms Miller, which we did. We heard nothing back.

Yesterday, we made our fifth attempt to see the register by e-mailing Ms Miller and leaving a message on her voicemail.

This newspaper's A Right to Know: Giving People Power campaign is calling on Government and public bodies such as the Corporation to be more transparent. Mayor Sutherland Madeiros has promised that the issue of holding its meetings in public and publishing minutes will be considered by members.

The difficulty in getting access to the register comes as voters are due to head to the polls for a by-election.

Common councillor George Grundmuller announced earlier this week he was stepping down for business reasons.

A date has yet to be announced for the extraordinary municipal election to find his replacement.

This newspaper revealed earlier this month that the Corporation is investigating the eligibility to serve of two members — common councillor Graeme Outerbridge and alderman David Dunkley — centring on their status as tenants in the City of Hamilton.

Both claim a "witch hunt" has been launched against them. The Royal Gazette wishes to view the register to check the registration details of all members.