ROLLS FOR THE ELECTIONS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 7564, 7 May 1919, Page 3

ROLLS FOR THE ELECTIONS.

' One discovery made at the municipal elections in Wellington was that the rolls were in a very bad ttate. This was a comforting reflection for UlO defeated candidates who were all f;uite convinced that this was the cause of their defeat —though why one man should claim the support of all the careless people it is difficult to say. It seems, however, that the intelligence of the average elector is low, for enquiry from the persons who were not on the roll and thought they should be showed in many cases that they had enrolled for the Parliamentary franchise and thought that covered the municipal elections also. Suggestions for meeting the state of affairs disclosed are various. One is that the Parliamentary and municipal rolls should be the same, but there are two objections to this —that the boundaries are different In many cases and that there is no provision for a special roll of ratepa3*ers for Parliamentary voting. Another suggestion is that the enrolment should not be left to the individual or any private organisation, but should be taken in hand by the public bodies concerned with a house, to house canvass. This is an iaea that is much favoured by experienced officials both in municipal circles and in charge of the general .oils. ' The licensing poll disclosed many absurdities and anomalies, and it is quite possible, if Parliament is in a mood for serious business next session, that an amendment of the law in this matter, if not in this direction, will be tackled.