AN ANTICIPATED DIFFICULTY.

In connection with the issue of the writ to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr C. Lewis, it may be well to summarise the procedure laid down in euch cases. On the Speaker (Sir G. M. O'Rorke) receiving the resignation of a member he must, forthwith, issue a warrant to the Clerk of Writs (Mr Hugh Pollen), directing him to issue a writ to supply the vacancy. On the receipt of the Speaker's warrant the Clerk of Writs must forthwith issue a writ to the returning officer for the district in which the vacancy has occurred, which is to be returnable within twenty-one days. In all probability the Christchurch by-election will be over within a month.

This will be the first election held under the pi-oviaions of the Electoral Act Amendment Act of last session, and already a difficulty has arisen in connection with one of its provisions, contained in Sub-section 1 of Section 2, which declares:—"The several offices of Registrar and Returning Officer shall not be held and exercised by one and tbe sameperson at the same time." Mr L. C. Williams has for many years held these dual positions, and so far as is known no one has been appointed Returning Officer. It will be seen that before the election can take place the appointment of a returning officer will be necessary.