THE ELECTORAL ROLLS.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14194, 7 November 1911, Page 4

THE ELECTORAL ROLLS.

POSITION REGARDING CITY SEATS.

The announcement by tho Primo Minister that the general elections will tako place on Doccmb?r 7th lends new interest to the position of the electoral rolls. A "Press" reporter saw four of the city registrars yosterdav, and gathered that two rollsAvon and Cliristchurc.i East—were then in the hands of tho registrars, ana available to tho public, and that two others—Christchurch North ar.d Uins - church South—would he in the hands of the registrars to-day. The opinion is held that the writ for the elections will be.««««. about the 2:3 rd inst, or a fortnight hciorc tho ehctions. That is tlio usual courro. and thero is no reason wli> it should be departed from on tins occasion. Electors will be able to ha c their names put ou the rolls until tne is.-uo of the writs. Some of tho registrars state that a fair proportion ot the applications lx>ing received are informal. In some cases, the electors have not answerer tho specified questions, but the mc.ft frequent irregularity is tho absence o* proper attestation. Applications ior enrolment have to be attested either by an elector of the district, or a Justice of the Peace, or a postmaster. Ono registrar received a couple of applications sent in by two men. neither of whom was on tho roll. They had witnessed each other's signatures. Another registrar received two applications from a lady whoso nanio was on two other electoral roils. When informalities aro found in claims fcr enrolment, notices are sent to the claimants, pointing out tho errors mado, and enclosing new forms. If thoso forms aro not returned, a further reminder is sent.

Tho no-license party and the continuance party arc still displaying a gcod deal of activity, and, according to one registrar, thoy arc doing their work very thoroughly. The workers for each party arc eager to got voters en the roll, and any informalities in claims brought in by them aro promptly rectified. Ono registrar spnko of both sides in terms almost of gratitude. He was giving them every assistance in his power, and tho assistance they wero giving him was incalculable. The main roll for Christchurch East contains 9112 names, nfter allowing for thoso struck off after the roll was printed. Tho registrar expects to have tho first supplementary (unnumbered) printed on Thursday next. It will contain apriroxirmtoly" GOO names. Tho roll for Christchurch North will ho in tho registrar's hands to-day. It will probably contain noarly 10,000 names. The registrar intends to place copies of the roll in tho post officer, and stores in tho electorate, along with copifv, of enrolment forms.

Tho roll for Avon has been printed, and contains 5179 names.

Tho roll for Christchurch South will bo received by tho registrar to-day. It is anticipated that it will contain about 8000 names, or approximately 1000 more than wore on it three years ago.

The registrars aro now preparing supplementary rolls. The back of tho work seems to havo been broken, and the officers anticipate a smooth course for tho rest of the timo up to election day. In all probability, the number of booths in each electorate will be increased.

The style of voting papers for use at tho elections will be tho same as that used at tho Christchurch North by-election.