STILL VOTELESS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 71, 24 March 1919, Page 6

STILL VOTELESS.

SOMHERS AND LIQUOR POLL TDBLTC OPINION SOLID. SUGGESTED FINAL RECOURSE. PASS A VALIDATING BILL. Although what ie practically a deaf ear has so far been turned by the ActingPrime Minister to the appeal on behalf of those soldiers who find themselves disqualified from voting at the special licensing poll on April 10, the public agitation in favour of their enfranchisement grows daily. The seuse of indig-

nation has reached such a stage now that the whole community is practically resolved to see justice done to these men.

On Saturday the National Efficiency League and the Auckland Licensed Victuallers' Association decided to join forcee in urging the Mayor to call a public meeting of protest against the Government's failure to make some provision to enable the men affected to vote, and representations were made to Mr. Gunson on the subject this morning. In discussing the matter later with a pressman, the Mayor remarked: "I am fully satisfied in the finst plate that the position arose primarily as the result of an Order-in-Council which was istvued, and upon which the soldiers reasonably depended. In the second place a subsequent Order-in-Council altered the position which the soldiers understood to exist. In the circumstances, therefore, it is reasonable to cay that the Government is responsible for the state of dissatisfaction that exists, and it clearly devolves upon the Government to remedy the matter. It ie an inconceiv-; able thing to mc that under the very wide powers of an Order-in-Council under the War Regulations and in the various ather ways of meeting such a situation the Government is as powerless as it now declares itself to be. Therefore, before calling a public meeting, 1 have again telegraphed to Sir James Allen this morning, pointing out the position, and asking the Government to take immediate steps to remedy the unfortunate position, which without any reasonable charge of failure or of neglect on the part of the returned soldiers, confronts them unless something is done to ensure to them the vote to which they are entitled on April 10." "As soon an I get the .Minister's reply," added the Mayor, "I will decide what action is necessary respecting the representations made to mc. In any case the matter ie so iniquitous that even if it means a short session of Parliament to put it right the Government should not hesitate at, such a course, particularly as the trouble has been brought about by the action of the Government in the issue of the confusing Orders-in-Council. Had the Government' done nothing tne position would have been entirely different, but to my mind, having been largely responsible in bringing it about, it is clearly the Government's duty to remedy the disabilities that have arisen through its action. - The question does

.| not affect Auckland alone, but affecte [ all the discharged returned soldiers in a , similar position throughout the Uo- . minion. There must be many hundreds . of these men, and the whole matter is s one of common justice and equity. It J is not for mc to say how it can be done. ; It is for the Government to find a way : out, and I think everyone in the com- , munity agrees that a way out must be , found." , Mr. A. Harris, M.P., who telegraphed ,j to the Acting-Prime Minister 'on the , I subject the other day, hag received the * following answer:—"The course sug- , gested by you was fully considered recently, and the Government was advised I that they cannoi legally adopt the device ( J of enlisting the men who have ceased to :ibe members of the Expeditionary Forces, for the purpose of enabling them to vote under the statutory provisions relating to members of those forces."

In commenting on the reply, Mr. Harris expressed the opinion that the Minister's answer was incomprehensible, in view of the fact that discharged soldiers needing medical treatment are asked to

reattest before entering a. hospital or sanatorium. " The Minister, moreover, does not refer to the first suggestion in my telegram, namely, that the Order-in-Council of February 25 should be revoked," said Mr. Harris. •' It appears to mc that if the Government has power to issue an Order-in-Council it certainly has the power to withdraw it, for presumably the Order-in-Council was issued under the authority of the Act. As a last resource I should recommend that the men be given the right to vote, and if the legality of the course is open to question, Parliament could beoasked to validate it as soon as the House meets. I am quite sure every member in the House would agree very he&rtily to such a course." A message received by the Auckland branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association states that a joint deputation representing both the parties who' are actively pariripating j n the campaign for the liquor referendum, were to interviewSir James Allen and the Attorney-Gen-eral (Sir Francis Bell) at Wellington today, on behalf of the disfranchised men.