ELECTION VOTES FROM BRITAIN

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25954, 7 November 1949, Page 3

ELECTION VOTES FROM BRITAIN

NEW ZEALANDERS’ INDIGNATION BRIEF TIME ALLOWED FOR POSTAL VOTES [From the London Correspondent of “The Press"} LONDON. October 2«. The voting procedure in the General Election is causing indignation among New Zealanders in Britain who are en-

titled to vote. According to the long-delayed instructions received from New Zealand and now promulgated in leaflet form, the Postal Voting Regulations are to apply- Their effect is to make it unlikely that several hundred New Zealanders will be able to record valid votes while many more travailing between the two countries will have no chance at all. The circular issued to those electors entitled to vote (i.e., those away from New Zealand less than one year) advises them that they should write to their returning officer in New Zealand signifying their intention to vote. The returning officer will then forward the papers by air mail to the elector, who may then record his vote and air mail the papers back. They

must arrive by 7 p.m. on polling day, November 30. From a study of New Zealand voting regulations it seems clear that the returnmg officer cannot forward the voting papers until the writ for the election is issued, usually about 21 days before the poll. This gives 21 days for the papers to be sent by the returning officer, catch a mail, travel 12,000 miles, be redirected in Britain, be filled in, and make the long journey back.

Narrow Margin As an air mail letter takes an Average of seven days from the date of posting (often longer) it is obvious that a very small margin indeed is allowed. The margin will be even smaller if an application arrives rfter the issue of the writ. If the period between the issue of postal voting papers and polling day is less than 17 days it will be Almost impossible for a vote to be cast. Although no exact figures are available it is understood that about 300 New Zealanders have inquired at New Zealand House. It is therefore probable that there are at least 500 voters at present in Britain entitled to vote on November 30. Australia conducts this matter much better. In the Commonwealth Nomination Day has been fixed for November 14 and polling day for December 10. Postal votes, which must be cast before polling day, may be accepted seven days after the closing of the polL thus giving Australians in Britain 33 days as against the maximum of about 21 days for New Zealanders. Disappointment has been expressed by New Zealand officials in London that they are not permitted 'o vote if away from the country for over one year. They point out that they were sent here by the Government, they pay New Zealand taxes, and therefore have a greater stake in their country than other nationals who are here paying British taxation.