CLOSING THE ROLLS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 249, 17 October 1908, Page 5

CLOSING THE ROLLS.

PROBABLY ABOUT NOV. 3. The announcement that' the general election has been fixed by the Government for Tuesday, November 17, has caused not a little surprise amongst many of the registrars of electors, by whom it was generally considered that the polls would be held towards the end of that month, or during the first week in December. In consequence, quite a rush of business is being experienced, and attending to claims for enrolment, procuring poll-clerks, and preparing under a new and revised system of regulation for the poll, ie occupying all the available time of these officers. Tn the course of conversation with a "Star" representative, Mr H. H. G. Ealfe, registrar of electors for Auckland West, explained that, within seven days after the prorogation of Parliament the Governor will issue instructions to the clerk of the writs to prpceed with the elections, and within three days thereafter, the clerk must issue the writs to the various registrars. These writs are returnable within 21 days, and Mr Ralfe calculates that the date should fall about November 24. Thus reckoning 21 days back from that date, the day for issuing the writs, and, of course, simultaneously closing the rolls, should be on or about November 3. There thus remains little over a fortnight for the rolls to close, and it behoves all who desire to claim the franchise to see that these names aTe on the roll within the next week or so. It is considered that each of the Auckland City and suburban rolls will contain I well over 8,000 names. For Auckland West, 7,400 are now on the roll, and at least 500 more are expected. In Auckland Central a total of 8,000 to 8,500, and in Auckland East of about 8,200, is considered to be near the mark. The Parncll roll should, it is believed, have about 7,800 at least, and Grey Lynn about 8,800. For several of these, a I large number of the names have to go ■ before the Magistrate's Court, which site within four days after the writs' issue, to consider and, if necessary, remove, all claims received by a registrar within 21 days prior to the issuing, and not approved by him. The figures for Eden are at present at 8,04.?, and the total will be about 8,500 at least. The Waiten.ata rolls should not be far in advance of those of 1905 (6,508). The corresponding figures for the previous elections were as follows:—Auckland West (approx.), 7,500; Auckland Central, 6,950; Auckland East, 7,245; Parnell, 6,700; Grey Lynn, 7,434; and Eden, 7,140; Last week, on the occasion of his leaving the employ of the company, the employees of Messrs A. J. Entriean and Co. presented Mr J. McNiel with a handsome armchair. Mr A. G. Maughan, in making the presentation, spoke of the high esteem in which Mr McNiel was held by ' the employees, who wished him all prosperity in "the future. Mr McNiel suitably responded.