A ELECTION NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1887, Page 8

A ELECTION NEWS.

Mow Koll Stuffing, is Worked. Wβ are assured by political quidnuncs and other, fish from ?low life depths," acquainted with the hanky-panky of electioneering, that wholesale roll stuffing is proceeding in connection with the city and suburban rolls, and that the forthcoming general election will be distinguished by more illegal- practices than any previous election since the "bad old times," when the working bullocks of a settler at the W ado were wonb to exercise a potent voice in the affairs of the colony by recording their votes. Perhaps we should explain to the uninitiated that ''roll stuffing"means the placing of the names of persons on the electoral rolls who are not duly qualified ; indeed, it is not even necessary that tho patronymics should be those of real persona at all. So long .as .the .names are there,, the clever persons § who , have d one the "stuffing" can easily* at the time of the election, find plenty of men willing for a sniall consideration to personate their fictitious "John Smiths" and ''Thomas Browns." How will these fictitious names beturned to good account i.s the next question ? Well, let us suppose that X. has placed 50 fictitious . names on an electoral roll. "Of I these, like Ko-Ko, in " The Mikado," he has a " little list." Two or three clays before the election he approaches one of tho candidates and -offers-to poll him 50 votes for say LIOO. The candidate knows that if he doei not make a purchase the votes will in all probability be bought by one of his opponents so he passes over tho LIOO and the chances are thafc at the election throe-fourths of the sham votes are recorded. And is there no check for this ? Scaucely any ; the election will follow the-compilation of the rolls ho rapidly -that the Registration officers .will * not have »|ime to examine properly, into the bona ;sdes of the unknown .votes, a Tho'bnly effective check is the :law against! persona-: tion, "and -'personators may: well hesitate Before"' incurring the* heavy penalties attaching to such offence