THE ELECTORAL LAW.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 272, 16 November 1910, Page 9

THE ELECTORAL LAW.

AMENDING BILL, PASSES SECOND READING. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. In moving the second reading of fche Legislature Amendm-ent Bill, Sir Joseph Ward said the time had arrived when a sj'-stematic elfort should be made by statutory SMTbh'ority to place the electoral rolls in a proper condition, and to see that people who have the right to vote aro upon the Tolk. In ifche past there had been ira systematic method of attaining purity of the rolls, and machinery ■was now to 'be provided to place in order the electoral rolls 'throughout 'the country. The time had gone 'by when such work could 'be left ito the political parties interested in an election. Proper purging of the rolls would be assured, and also the validity of all claims for enrolment. Under this measure, enrolment ■would have to be undertaken in June 'or July, and the rolls -would 'bo published by a fixed date. Special provision would 'be made to prevent impersonation, double voting, and other improper methods of using t!he franchise.

The Prime Minister -went on to fully explain the details of the bill as already published. The amendments in regard to native elections, he asserted, were proposed n-s the outcome of the.trouble which arose tit the time of the la-st election in the Western Maori district, when Mr. Justice Edwards found that the present law was quite unworkable. Mr. Massey said 'he approved the general proposals of the bill, but he thought if people were too indifferent to the welfare of the country to have their names placed on the roll they should not 'be further considered. The electoral census would cost a lot of money. He condemned the second 'ballot system. In Auckland bhe system of preferential voting had been on trial. Sir Joseph Ward: And. it is very unsatisfactory, too. Mr. Massey replied that iris information •was that the system' bad worked satisfactorily. He quoted from- an article in the "Evening Post" from ah Australian correspondent, stating that the proportional system of voting had operated well in Tasmania.

"This system," commented Mr. Massey, did away with parochial jealousies, and secured the election of the best men. The time had come for the abolition of special Maori representation. Mr. Wright urged that very gTeot care should he exercised dn tttte selection of returning officers. Troublesome irregularities had been caused in the past. Sir William Steward urged that meanhere should be elected for four years, instead of three.

In reply, .the Prime Minister, discussing the requests for a new system of electing members, asked: t'Whiat is wrong with the present Parliament? What member is dissatisfied with his election?" In Queensland it had been proved that the weakness of the contingent system was that electors could not ibe induced to exercise .tlbeir contingent vote. He believed thait .the second 'ballot system had worked, well in New Zealand, and he could not believe thait it sttould be exchanged for any other one that had been tried in other countries, 'bu* -had-not been .proved .jßlfc. tirery satisfactory. The bill was read a second time.