DISFRANCHISING SOLDIERS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 69, 21 March 1919, Page 8

DISFRANCHISING SOLDIERS.

PUBLIC FEELING OUTRAGED. HON. G. J. UARLAXO'S VIEWS. A LAWFUL REMEDY. Tin- disfranchisement of discharged ■soldiers in connection witli the fortlicomuig lii'i-n.-ing poll is a matter that is .-renting public consternation in the Auckland province, and. no doubt, throughout New /calami, the popular \ie.* being that tin' t.oveniment's amending regulation is an insult to the men who have served faithfully and well in the best interests of the nation, and the i* • .unity, in which they I'm.l, on retni nn_ t.. civil life, that their ri*_hti-. as wort In eitis-ens are to go by the board mile-.- prompt action is taken to compel th.. authorities to remedy a grave injustice. Apart from that aspect an indignant puldie i- ill.dined to seek for the motiic behind thi- attempt to tl.privt' the men who have f.m.iit of their lawful privilege. A vi-ighly point that is mousing tin- keenest interrogation is ■'hy the I'ovi-riuiM-i't cannot '..nit-ml a regulation which already has been amend,.l. A 'Hither natural query is, if tii.- -.1111101 l„. done, now did the Government manage to rectify or remedy ivar regulation- witli such' ease, and' at a t. vv hour-' or days' notice, whet; emergency and the pressing needs demanded. A straight and strong .use in favour of the unquestioned rights of nUVcted returned soldiers is provided in an interview given to a "Star" reporter to-day h.\ 'he Hon. i;. I. Garlnnil. Jl "STICK MIXI-TKI!. NOT DEFENCE. Mr Garland said: "If appears to mc that clau>c |-_, .sub-clause 2 of the Licensing Amendment Act. 101 S. ?ives the Minister for Justice all tile power necessary to do all things that may be required for enabling the members of the Expeditionary Forces cither at home or abroad to obtain and exercise their electoral rights. This reads as follows: -

"The validity of the special licensing poll shall not be questioned on the ground that anything re-

quired to he .lon,. |,v" this section has been irregularly done, or has been omitted to be done, or that for any reason whatever it has been found impracticable for any member of tlie Expeditionary Koree to vote, or for the Vote of any member to be counted.*'

ISSLK Ol* STATCS ('J_RTI FICATI-

" I would like to point out here that the members of the Legislative Council arc frequently kicked —I might almost say dammed uith bell, book, and candle— for permitting ha.-ty legislation to pass through the legislature. It will appear. however, in tills case at any rate, that they safeguarded tlie rights' of the men who have done their bit for country and for Kmpire. So far ~s the Gazette notice i.y Order-in-Council. on the -_.">tii .1 ebruary. I!)]!), is concerned, the Minister makes it clear that the electoral officer or his clerk tniiist receive a status certificate, and slull initial the same, and shall return the statu, certificate to the •...ter. This status certificate must apply to those men who have not secured the franchise hy having their names registered upon the electoral roll, ii ml. i can only read a logical sequence which appears to mc to require application by the returned man whose name

is n.it on the roll to the Director ol liase Records for a status certificate. Hut the Order-in-Council above referred to is apparently wanting in clearness, and. if lhe Minister, who by the Act i- "»l the Minister for Defence, would just clarify the verbiage of the Gazette notice in question, | see no reason why all these returned men should not have the right to vote. Viewed from the iiemocr.itic -standpoint. I feel quite sure that neither the Minister for Defence or any Mini. ter of the Crown has an** intention of defrauding the.-c hrave'men of their political rights, and the spirit of the Acl itself is so palpably clear Hint lam strongly of opinion that v. hen the Minister looks carefully into the i-uotion be will discover that hot only the spirit of the Act. but the letter of tin- Act itself gives him authority to accompli"!! that which justice demand-*.

A I,l* EST lON. ''I am asked the reason why these returned men fail to enrol. In answering that question I would answer it by asking another, whether clause 7. sub-clause _ was only carried out by the Registrar. That clause provides that the notice In writin_ required to lie given to the elector may be given by registered letter addressed to su.li elector at the address appearing on the electoral roll or supplementary roll, lias that been done in these eases'.' The men were certainly entitled to it. However, I see no dilli culty in the Director of Hase Records under the dire, tion of the Minister granting these men status certificates, and 1 -hall be very much surprised it such a course is not adopted. Keeling is now so strong in regard to these men that if a plebiscite were taken of the whole community the right asked for would be granted by a I'll per cent, majority. There is no question about it. that lhe public arc determined to see this thing through, and that these men an to get their right to vote on the 10th of April—one small recognition ot what we owe to them for tlie great per-onal snerifice they have endured for ii* iv the momentous struggle for world* liberty.*'