THE ELECTIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 304, 7 October 1935, Page 3

THE ELECTIONS

PURGING OF THE ROLLS THE COMPULSORY ENROLMENT

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 4. When the Electoral Department’s vote was before the Committee of Supply in the House of Representatives to-day, Mr F. Langstone (Lab., Waimarino) asked that returning officers should be instructed as far as possible to' give .work on election day to the unemployed. Mr W. Nash (Lab., Hutt) asked the Prime Minister if lie would consider the practice adopted in Britain and some other places of allowing each candidate to send one circular letter to householders free of cost.

Mr Forbes said the proposal was a new one, and would have to receive consideration.

Several members referred to the purging of the rolls, and suggested that the Government should assist, perhaps through the Post and Telegraph Department, to get electors enrolled.

Mr It. McKeen (Lab., ‘Wellington South) said that candidates should not be put to the expense of opening up rooms and renting shops to put people on the roll.

Mr R*. Semple (Lab., Wellington East) said he believed tJiat thousands of people did not know that enrolment was compulsory, and the law should be put into effect to impress upon them that they had a duty in the matter. Mr A. J. Stallworthy (Ind., Eden) and Mr W. Nash suggested that, the supplementary roll should be published at an early date and a second supplementary roll then compiled. Mr Cobbq, acting for the Prime Minister, said that publicity was being given for the necessity of enrolling, and the Chief Electoral Officer had informed him that enrolments were coming in very satisfactorily.

NATIONAL AT DUNEDIN CENTRAL DUNEDIN, October 5. Mr B. C. Cameron is announced as National candidate for the Dunedin Central seat.