MUNICIPAL ROLLS

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 520, 29 May 1909, Page 6

MUNICIPAL ROLLS

DEPUTATION TO THE PREMIER. AMENDING LEGISLATION PROMISED. The anomalies in the law relating to tho registration of municipal electors were brought before tho 'Prime Minister yesterday by the Mayor of Wellington (Dr. A. K. Newman), and members of the City Council. Tbo conflicting provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act, and the regulations thereunder, were explained by Dr. Newman, Councillors Ballinger and Sl'Laren and the town clerk (Mr. J. R. Palmer), who stated that while the town clerk was directed to enrol all whom he believed to be qualified, he was also directed to enrol all who inad£ application on the prescribed form, without respect to their qualificatione. The well-known problem of the lodger who claims to vote as a eub-tenant was also stated afresh, and it was pointed out that the regulations provided that the names of those who did not vote should'be struck off the roll, anil yet made this impossible by directing that the ballot papers should be sealed up, and not reopened. There wae an apparent difference of opinion within the council, ae Councillors M'Laren and Fletcher suggested the use of the' Parliamentary roll, and Councillor Smith ■rose to say that this'was not the view of the council generally. The Prime Minister, in reply, said he was sorry the municipal rolls were not bo pure as the Parliamentary ones. ,'- The Government contemplated some amendments of the lawf, and had received representations on the suV ject from the Municipal Association. TheJ would try to bring the Act and the regula , tions into harmony.. The Government would' consider the representations that* had been, made, and, later on, when they had fixed the basis on which alterations should bo made, they would send a copy of their Bill to tho municipalities, sufficiently early to allow of a representative meeting discussing it, or the different councils sending their opinions to their central executive, which could forward them to the Government.