WHAT IS CANVASSING?

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 11008, 4 July 1901, Page 6

WHAT IS CANVASSING?

The vagueness of last session's Act prohibiting "canvassing" is causing some curiosity at present as to precisely what is meant by that term. Mr A. H. Turnbull, when seen by a representative of "The Press" yesterday, had not yet investigated the point, but Mr G. J. Smith construes the Act to bo merely a prohibition of house to house visiting, and direct asking for votes. The Legislature had no intention, he thinks, of preventing people from expressing their personal opinion as to the merits or chances of success of a candidate. After doing so, however, they should not ask for votes on his behalf. Mr Smith stated that he has instructed the committees he is forming to keep strictly clear of any canvassing of this kind. He "allows that the law could be evaded with the greatest eass, but sympathises with its object of doing away with all direct asking for votes and houso to house visiting, which he considers directly opposed to the spirit of the ballot. He thinks that the intentions and opinions of candidates should be placed frankly and fully before all the electors, and that they should then act on their own judgment.

Something like five thousand names have ! been .truck off tbe Christchurch City electoral roll since last general election, and only about five hundred applications have been received for enrolment. At last election there were about 22,000 names on tha roll, and at the present election there is not I likely to be more than 17,000. A poll of six thousand votes ought to be about sufficient to win the seat. { A meeting of the friends and supporters " of Mr G. J.Smith was held in the Waltham School last night. Mr J. Taylor was voted "to the chair. "Mr Smith addressed the meeting. A resolution was carried endors- _ ing Mr Smith's candidature, and pledging the meeting to do its utmost to secure 3lr Smith's return. Sir J. Taylor was elected chairman, and Mr A. M. McMeeken secretary. A meeting of Mr G. J., Smith's friends and supporters will be held at the Methodist Schoolroom, St. Albans lane, this evening, at 8 o'clock, and at tbe State ' School, Richmond, to-morrow evening, at ; the same hour. i A meeting of Mr A- H. TumbulTs friends and supporters was hold in the Chamber of Commerce last evening. Mr John Chirks -was appointed chairman. Mr Turnbull : having addressed the meeting, a reso- \ lution was passed supporting Mr Turnbull's j candidature. A Committee, with power to add to their number, was appointed. A meeting of the Committee will be held in the Committee rooms, Inglis's Buildings, on Friday. Mr A. H. Turnbull announces his candidature for the seat vacated by the resignation of Mr C. Lewis, and states that he will take an early opportunity of addressing the i electors.